APA Policy Statement on Immigrant Health

This policy statement affirms APA’s support to promote the health of immigrant families and children.

APA also recognizes that immigrants may be disproportionately likely to experience stress and other behavioral health concerns (Cohodes et al., 2021; Doctors without Borders, 2020), which can be made worse with harmful public policies and lack of access to appropriate supports and services (Garcini et al., 2022; Samari, et al., 2021).

With a growing number of immigrants entering the United States (Batalova, 2024), there is a need for psychologists to become more knowledgeable about how to address the behavioral health needs of immigrants appropriately. Likewise, policymakers, educators, researchers, and health care providers should become better versed in the psychological impacts of trauma associated with immigration as well as anti-immigrant actions and sentiments on behavioral health and unite in their support for access to psychological and physical health care as well as educational services for immigrants and their families.

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