The Watchfulness Burden: How Perpetual Fear Is Costing Immigrant Families Their Health, Wealth, and Future
For millions of immigrants across the United States, daily life unfolds beneath an unrelenting cloud of legal uncertainty that quietly drains both mental energy and financial resources. The psychological toll of constant vigilance — monitoring news cycles, avoiding public spaces, second-guessing routine decisions — accumulates into a form of chronic stress that researchers now recognize as a significant public health concern. This article examines how community organizations are working to disma