Occupational Therapy - 2015

13 than in-state residents. In addition, their unauthorized status deems immigrants ineligible for federal financial aid and many scholarships, making the cost of pursuing a college education prohibitive to almost all (Abrego & Gonzales, 2010). A handful of states do offer state-based financial aid to qualifying unauthorized immigrants, however, a lack of knowledge and assistance often pre- vents them from accessing these resources (Sheehy, 2014). Although perhaps not as obvious as the other barriers faced by unauthorized immigrants, the stigma associated with limited English proficiency and being in the country illegally leads to discrimination, which, along with a constant fear of being discovered, prevents many individuals from participating in important oc- cupations in and around their communities (Bailliard, 2013). Altogether, the barriers revealed in the literature portray a challenging life for the millions of unauthor- ized immigrants living in the United States. Discussion Humans are occupational beings, and their participation in meaningful occupations directly affects their health, well-being, and quality of life (Stadnyk, Townsend, & Wilcock, 2010). Strict legal policies threatening depor- tation and limiting access to resources and community participation, along with unfavorable public percep- tions of immigrants, have led many individuals living in the United States without legal authorization to ex- perience discrimination, occupational deprivation, and occupational imbalance (Bailliard, 2013). In certain communities with large unauthorized immigrant populations, law enforcement officials have been known to set up roadblocks, requiring driver’s li- censes and proof of immigration status from all who seek to pass (Bailliard, 2013; Waslin, 2013). This very real threat of being discovered has discouraged travel for many unauthorized immigrants, causing them to rethink which roads to take, the time of day in which it might be safest to travel, and the necessity of every trip outside their home. The constant and pervasive fear of being caught, separated from family, and deported has led many unauthorized immigrants to avoid commu- nity participation as much as possible, which can limit opportunities for leisure and recreation, and can poten- tially lead to social isolation, occupational imbalance, decreased mental and physical health, and a reduced quality of life (Backman, 2010; Bailliard, 2013; Stadnyk et al., 2010) Discrimination from the general public can also lead to denied opportunities and reduced partici- pation in meaningful occupations for unauthorized immigrants. A 2012 study by Latino Decisions and the National Hispanic Media Coalition found that the mainstream media routinely portrays negative stereo- types of unauthorized immigrants, and that American’s who are exposed to these stereotypes are more likely to hold unfavorable opinions of them (Barrreto, Segura, & Manzano, 2012). Moreover, the media’s frequent use of the term “illegal immigrants” and/or “illegal aliens” to describe individuals living in the U.S. without proper authorization dehumanizes them while perpetuating the misconception that unauthorized immigrants are criminals. In fact, research has shown that both unau- thorized and legally authorized immigrants are less likely to engage in violent and non-violent criminal be- havior than individuals born within the United States (American Immigration Council, 2015). And while it is true that entering the United States without legal documentation is a misdemeanor offense, nearly half of those unauthorized immigrants living in the United States first entered the country through legal means, and therefore did not commit a crime upon entering the country (Pew Reserach Center, 2006; Snider, 2014). Furthermore, the act of residing in the United States without legal authorization is only a civil offense, simi- lar to speeding or running a red light. We do not refer to drivers who speed as “illegal drivers,” nor do we re- fer to the most heinous criminals in our justice system as “illegal murderers.” The media’s continued use of the term “illegal” to describe unauthorized immigrants in the United States serves to strengthen negative public opinion while fostering hostile, anti-immigrant senti- ments (Haque-Hausrath, 2008; Vargas, 2012). Moving forward: Where do we go from here? Despite the negative stereotypes portrayed in the media, Americans’ views towards immigration are not entirely unfavorable, though they tend to be split along partisan lines. Sixty-two percent of Democrats view immigrants as “strengthening the country through their hard work and talents,” whereas 63% of Republicans view them as “burdening the country by taking jobs, housing, and healthcare” (Pew Research Center, 2015). And though as many as 83% of Americans support “stricter border control to try to reduce illegal immigration,” few can agree upon what should be done for the millions of im- migrants who are already residing here (ABC News/ OCCUPATION: A Medium of Inquiry for Students, Faculty & Other Practitioners Advocating for Health through Occupational Studies November 2015, Volume 1, Number 1