New National Study Reveals Intersectional Impact of Racial Discrimination, Immigration Enforcement and Economic Opportunity on Latino Communities

 A new report by LatinoJustice PRLDEF provides important findings from focus groups conducted among Latinos of diverse racial identities, ages, geographic and national origins revealing how these communities experience discrimination and other barriers to their social and economic well-being.

The report, titled “How Race, Colorism, and Identity Shape Legal Needs in the Latino Community” “En Sus Propias Palabras,” was researched and authored by Dr. Linda Lopez, Ph.D.; Maria Velasquez, MPA and Joseph Flores, MGPS. They spoke to people in seven states—California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Texas—and Puerto Rico over five months to gather Latinos’ views and perceptions on racial identity and discrimination, economic and educational barriers, policing and civic participation, and how these affect their ability to raise their families.

Key findings:

● Afro-descended and indigenous-identified Latinos suffer an increased burden of discrimination and colorism not just from non-Latinos, but within the Latino community, making it difficult for Afro-Latinos to acknowledge their ancestry and for indigenous Latinos to use their native language; 

● Parents and youth are strongly concerned about the possibility of violence in schools, and the possibility of encountering gun violence in their everyday lives, and a fear of crime and violence coexisting with fear about approaching law enforcement or being persecuted by immigration enforcement;

● Latinx youth, across immigration status, are deeply concerned about how they can help relieve their families’ financial burdens, and about future financial security for themselves and their families;

● Recent migrants to Florida who are eligible voters said they have not been engaged on voting or civic participation by a political party, an electoral campaign, or a civil society group;

● Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to linger among Latino families, because of death of family and friends, loss of jobs, impact on mental health, and how the crisis deepened existing inequities;

● People in Puerto Rico reported deep concern over lack of access to basic services, shrinking pathways out of poverty and ongoing effects of “second class citizenship.”

The report was funded by Vanguard and shepherded under the auspices of LatinoJustice PRLDEF Racial Justice Project.