"I Thought It Would Be Different": Experiences of Structural Violence in the Lives of Undocumented Latinas

In the United States, a majority of immigrants living with undocumented status hail from Latin America. Their migration is often propelled by adverse conditions and experiences of violence in their countries, which are inextricably linked to historical and ongoing policies of global political powers. However, their suffering does not end in the United States. Whereas many studies focus on the direct/individual violence experienced, few examine the impact of structural violence. Structural violence refers to the injustices embedded in social and institutional structures including laws and policies within societies that result in harm to an individual's psychological and physical well-being. This qualitative study explored the experiences and consequences of structural violence faced by Latina women with undocumented status living in the United States. Participants (n = 8) were recruited in the community using snowball sampling. We conducted in-depth, semistructured interviews focusing on participants' immigration process, health, work, education, and support systems. Using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) as a method, multiple themes that highlighted participants' experiences of structural violence were identified. These included: (a) violence across several contexts, including places of employment, home, community, and while accessing services; (b) psychological and physical consequences of structural violence for participants; and (c) experiences of support and resilience that helped participants survive structural violence. Participants' intersecting identities (e.g., gender, ethnicity/race, documentation status) increased their vulnerability to violence. We highlight the importance of calling attention to violent structures embedded in sociopolitical histories, the importance of systemic changes, including challenging laws and policies, and building solidarity across struggles.