In the present study we used a mixed-method design to examine perceptions of legal status and their association with psychosocial experiences among undocumented Latino/a immigrants in the United States Participants were asked to compare their perceived social experiences with those of documented Latinos/as in order to determine whether differences in such perceptions might emerge and whether such perceptions might differentially impact well-being. A community sample of 140 self-reported undocumented Latino/a immigrants completed questionnaires measuring perceptions of legal status, well-being (global and psychological), perceived context of reception, and experiences of discrimination. Results indicated that individuals who perceived their experiences as different from those of documented Latinos/as due to an unauthorized legal status reported less social equality as evidenced by lower well-being, increased experiences of discrimination, and a more adverse context of reception. Moreover, individuals who perceived their social experiences as different from those of documented Latinos/as due to their legal status reported issues centering on 2 domains: limited opportunity/restricted social mobility and discrimination/unfair treatment. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in terms of advancing theory and from a multicultural counseling perspective. © 2017 American Psychological Association.

Legal status Immigrant Undocumented Latino/a discrimination Well-being

perception immigrant Social Identification human wellbeing middle aged controlled study Arkansas social mobility Hispanic Americans Undocumented Immigrants Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult United States Humans undocumented immigrant racism Hispanic Adolescent psychology male counseling female PsycINFO questionnaire self concept Social Stigma adult human experiment social class community sample social behavior Texas