Imagine: A Promise Scholars and McNair Scholars Journal

This paper examines the psychological toll of U.S. immigration policies on Latinx immigrants through a historical and social lens. Challenging the idealized narrative of the American Dream, the study explores how structural violence, U.S. intervention in Latin America, and the conditions within detention centers contribute to long-term trauma and mental health disorders such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Using scholarly research and firsthand accounts, the paper reveals the multilayered trauma experienced across three stages of migration: pre-migration, en route, and post-migration. Particular attention is given to the experiences of undocumented individuals, children, and mixed-status families who face systemic discrimination, the threat of deportation, and institutional neglect. The study argues for urgent reform of immigration practices and detention systems, advocating for a humane approach that centers psychological support, family unity, and accountability.