Background: Immigrant policies can produce barriers to well-being by excluding immigrants from resources, such as eligibility for Medicaid or educational opportunities, and by creating hostile environments in which they experience stress due to immigration enforcement or discrimination. Yet, there is limited population-level data on the extent of policy-related exclusion, such as denial of rights in health care or work settings, racial profiling, or deportation. Further, there has been little examination of how these experiences differ between Latino and Asian immigrants.

Methods: The Research on ImmiGrant HealTh and State policy (RIGHTS) Study surveyed Latino and Asian immigrants’ experiences of exclusion in health care, education, labor, and law enforcement. We collected data from a follow-up sample (n=1000) of respondents to the California Health Interview Survey and conducted analyses to assess variations between the two groups.

Results: Latinos and Asians experienced exclusion across policy sectors, but there were significant variations between groups in health and social services, such as access to medical interpretation, and in the workplace, such as concerns about work authorization. Both groups reported high levels of racial profiling and knowing someone who had been deported.

Conclusion: Significant proportions of Latino and Asian immigrants experience exclusion related to immigrant policies. The differences in experiences across areas of policy, however, suggest the impact of policy may vary due to factors such as race/ethnicity, national origin, or language. Future research and interventions should be attentive to differences in exclusions that Latino and Asian immigrants face due to federal, state, and local policies.