Immigration and its Effect on the Mental Health of Latinos

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28
PROGRAM #10941 12:00 PM PT

Immigration and its Effect on the Mental Health of Latinos. 

In light of reports of violent anti-immigrant raids and operations in several cities across the country, immigrant families are experiencing resounding levels of uncertainty and fear that federal agents will show up in normally safe places, such as schools, stores, workplaces, and even on the streets. What is the impact of immigration on the mental health of the Latino community, and how can it be addressed?

Guests: Sophia Rerucha, Reporter at Radio Bilingüe, Student at San Francisco State University-SFSU, San Francisco, CA; Patricia Rojas Zambrano, Psychotherapist and Education Professor, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.

California Expands Paid Family Leave and Sick Days Benefits. In California, workers can now use paid family leave without having to use their accrued vacation hours thanks to AB 2123, which went into effect in January of this year. The new law allows for the expansion of income replacement programs, known as Paid Family Leave and State Disability Insurance, which are typically used for long-term needs such as recovery from surgery or caring for a seriously ill family member. Which workers are eligible for these benefits? What kind of compensation can they receive? How to apply for assistance?

Guests: Daniela Rodriguez, Reporter at Radio Bilingüe, UC Berkeley Fellow, Fresno, CA; Natasha Castro, Education and Outreach Organizer, Work and Family Coalition, San Francisco Bay Area, CA; Juliana Franco, Senior Staff Attorney, Center for WorkLife Law, San Francisco Bay Area, CA.

Can citizenship by birth be revoked? With the Supreme Court poised to rule on the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s order to deny birthright citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants, attorneys general from most Republican states are rallying behind the White House’s demands. In a legal motion, a total of 24 states governed by Republicans argue that the Fourteenth Amendment was not designed to grant automatic citizenship to babies born to mothers who reside in the country illegally or who are visiting temporarily, even though the spirit of the amendment has been ratified in several courts. A journalist reports on the latest developments regarding the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Guest: José López Zamorano, Correspondent, Washington, DC.

A defense fund for immigrants. Millions of U.S. households have at least one family member at risk of detention or deportation, and thousands face immigration court without legal representation. As the government cuts funding for legal aid and pushes forward with mass deportations, a coalition of immigrant rights organizations has created the Defending Our Neighbors Fund. How did this initiative come about? What are its goals? Who qualifies for assistance? How can families apply?

Guest: Mayra Peters-Quintero, Executive Director, Abundant Futures Fund, New York, NY.

Photo: Paul Goyette/Flickr

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