Latina/o Immigrant Integration in the Rural Midwest: Host Community Resident and Immigrant Perspectives

• Published in: Journal of Latina/o Psychology 2015-02, Vol.3 (1), p.23-39
• Main Authors: May, Sarah F., Flores, Lisa Y., Jeanetta, Stephen, Saunders, Lindsey, Valdivia, Corinne, Arévalo Avalos, Marvyn R., Martínez, Domingo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Communities; Female; Human; Immigration; Latinos/Latinas; Male; Rural Environments
• ISSN: 2168-1678; 2578-8086; 2168-1678; 2163-0070; 2578-8094
• DOI: 10.1037/lat0000029

The Latina/o population has grown significantly in new settlement communities in the Midwest portion of the United States in the past 10 to 15 years (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). The current study seeks to better understand the status of integration in 1 such community from the perspectives of immigrants and members of the host community. Using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework as a theoretical base, we define integration as a product of the social, cultural, human, and economic assets possessed by immigrants and host community residents within a rural settlement community. We explore the status of integration based on how well-developed these capitals are among immigrants and host community residents. Focus groups were conducted with 28 participants (11 host community residents, 17 Latina/o immigrants) in a small farming community (population approximately 1,960; U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). Data reveal differing levels of social, cultural, human, and economic capitals as well as power disparities between immigrants and host community residents. The data indicate that, although nearly 15 years have passed since a large increase in the Latina/o immigrant population, this community is still largely unintegrated. Findings provide a basis for interventions to facilitate integration in rural settings, which must account for the experiences of both immigrants and host community residents. Limitations of the study and suggestions for psychological practice and future research in emerging immigrant settlement communities are discussed. En los últimos 10-15 años, la población latina ha crecido mucho en comunidades en el medio-oeste de los Estados Unidos que son sitios nuevos para asentamiento de inmigrantes (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). La investigación actual procura establecer un mejor entendimiento del estatus de integración en una comunidad así desde las perspectivas de inmigrantes y residentes de la comunidad de acogida. Utilizando el Enfoque de los Medios de Vida Sostenibles como base teorética, definimos integración como un producto de las ventajas sociales, culturales, económicas, y de seres humanos que llevan los inmigrantes y miembros de la comunidad de acogida en una area rural. Exploramos el estatus de integración basado en que tan desarrollado son estas ventajas entre inmigrantes y residentes de la comunidad de acogida. El proyecto involucra a residentes de la comunidad de acogida e inmigrantes latinos para ganar una comprensión detallada de la integrac