ThinkTankWeekly

Eroding the American Dream through federal policy shifts

Brookings | 2026-04-09 | society

Topics: United States

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English Summary

A new Brookings report argues that intensified federal immigration enforcement, particularly actions by ICE, is eroding the American Dream for immigrant communities by chilling civic engagement and creating a perception that upward mobility is unattainable. The report highlights that restrictive policies like potential photo-ID laws disproportionately impact naturalized citizens and that recent deportations of DREAMers further undermine the promise of opportunity. This shift in perception, particularly among Latino immigrants, is impacting their optimism and participation in the democratic process, with a majority believing the American Dream has become harder to achieve.

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