Encrucijada: The Intersection of Economic Inequality Among Latinx and Federal Policy

Background and Purpose: Latinos, Latinas, and Latinx individuals have migrated and contributed to shaping the United States for centuries, often guided by the American Dream. This belief is often framed as the idea that America is the land of opportunity, that hard work leads to that opportunity, and that it offers the chance for a better life. While this ideal has been realized by some, it has excluded many others. In recent decades, federal policies have disproportionately disadvantaged marginalized communities with respect to economic stability and overall wellbeing. Drawing on my own observations as a clinician, this study asks: How do exclusionary systemic practices, federal policy shifts, and economic status affect the wellbeing of Latinos, Latinas, and Latinx populations?

Methods: This analysis adopts a narrative, document-informed qualitative approach, drawing on established methods in document analysis (Bowen, 2009) and narrative inquiry (Riessman, 2008) to examine the intersection of economic inequality among Latinos, Latinas, and Latinx communities, systemic practices and federal policy shifts, and wellbeing from 2018–2025, utilizing approximately 45 documents. Sources include government records, historically foundational documents, academic literature, and contemporary data sources. My professional endeavors as a mental health provider inform the analysis, grounding policy trends in lived experience. Documents were chosen for their relevance, credibility, and ability to examine change over time. All materials explored have been analyzed through an economic inequality lens, with a focus on policy decisions that shape social dynamics and impact wellbeing.

Results: Findings across sources consistently point to increasing insecurity in finances, safety, and trust in government support among Latinos, Latinas, and Latinx populations as policy shifts toward prioritizing economic growth and fiscal priorities over programs that support individuals and families. Policy shifts involving cuts or redirection of funds appear to contribute to heightened instability, especially in the context of existing systemic barriers. Furthermore, the historical and contemporary data sources reveal limitations in how Latinx populations are represented, particularly through the broad use of the category “Hispanic,” which may obscure important differences and dimensions of inequality. Taken together, the findings suggest that recent political shifts, when considered alongside longstanding structural inequalities, are linked to worsening conditions for wellbeing among Latinx communities.

Conclusions & Implications: The patterns of recent policy changes and the negative effect on the wellbeing of Latinos, Latinas, and Latinx individuals highlight the need for macro-level analysis to inform intervention across social work practice (micro, mezzo, or macro). Social workers engage across different roles, as educators, therapists, political figures, and more, which positions the profession to respond to these macro shifts in diverse contexts. However, to advance social justice, we need to critically examine these macro dynamics. This paper illuminates the underrepresented perspective on the impact of the recent shifts in systemic practices and policies. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated, “A riot is the language of the unheard.” Ignoring the impact of recent changes on the Latinx communities risks reinforcing harmful systemic practices and deepening socio-political divides.