Actions and Outcomes Based on Perceptions and Emotions or Facts?

This article describes how the perceived increase in Latino/a immigration, the present economic conditions, and the tendency to ascribe negative attributes and behaviors to the immigrant are resulting in anti-immigration actions and laws. It directs attention to the detrimental effects that such perceptions, actions, and laws are having on the psychological and social well-being of Latino/a immigrant families and children. Efforts are taken throughout the article to differentiate perceptions from reality and facts from fiction. The article concludes with selective professional, institutional, and legislative poli-cy recommendations that advocate for a more humane treatment of Latino/a immigrant children and families. Keywords immigration, Latino/a, anti-immigration, immigrant children and families, stereotypes Increased rates and changing patterns of immigration to the United States have historically been associated with social, economic, legal, and political reactions and concomitant challenges that have negatively impacted differen