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Description

In the United States, immigration has been widely discussed, with increasing polarization observed among the public. Media coverage has highlighted immigration policy changes, reports of violence or neglect by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and differing perspectives of support or disapproval. Concerns related to deportation and discrimination have been reported across immigrant populations, with the Hispanic/Latino population frequently identified as disproportionately impacted. Shifts in public perception and treatment of this group have been documented over the last decade and have been correlated with the political climate across recent presidential administrations. During this period, immigration protocols have expanded, including increases in ICE personnel, deportations, and the use of immigration detention centers. These institutional developments have been accompanied by a larger discourse regarding Hispanic/Latino immigrants, reflecting a range of social and political viewpoints and forming a contradictory narrative surrounding immigration.

Within this context, the intersection of race and immigration status has emerged as a social phenomenon shaping institutional responses and public attitudes toward Hispanic/Latino immigrants. Enforcement practices, detention conditions, and public perceptions have been reported to be influenced by racialized narratives and assumptions about legal status, which may contribute to patterns of stigmatization and exclusion. In this systematic literature review, existing research will be examined to identify common themes related to immigration enforcement, detention practices, and societal perceptions; to understand the phenomenon through which race and immigration status operate together to shape the treatment and perception of Hispanic/Latino immigrants in the United States.

Publication Date

4-30-2026

Keywords

Immigration Bias, Hispanic/Latino, Detention Centers

Race, Immigration Status, and Political Climate: Shaping the Treatment and Perceptions of Hispanic/Latino Immigrants

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