HOUSTON – (June 29, 2022) – An expert from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy is available to discuss this week’s horrific migrant deaths in San Antonio.
Luz Garcini, scholar at the Baker Institute’s Center for the United States and Mexico and an expert in trauma and grief among Latino immigrants, said the tragedy spotlights the need for respectful discourse surrounding immigration.
“How we talk about the tragedy in San Antonio could bring up traumatic memories for many immigrants who have lost loved ones during migration, or those who suffered but survived the hardship of this type of journey,” she said.
“Anti-immigrant rhetoric has done so much damage to historically marginalized immigrant communities,” she continued. “A focus on the hardship experienced by these communities could foster dialogue for the pressing need of immigration reform.”
Garcini is also an assistant professor in Rice’s department of psychological sciences. Her research focuses on the study of trauma, loss and grief among historically marginalized communities, including Latino immigrants. The primary goal of her research aims to inform policy and best practices among healthcare providers, as well as to develop and disseminate interventions for individuals and families facing adversity. Her work with Rice’s Proyecto Voces involves both community outreach and research to generate scientific evidence to document and address the complex health needs of Latino immigrants and deportees.
To schedule an interview with Garcini, or for more information, contact Avery Franklin, media relations specialist at Rice, at averyrf@rice.edu or 713-348-6327.