Editorial: Immigration, Prenatal Stress, and Autistic Traits in Offspring: Examining the Role of Discrimination

Inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, Emma Lazarus's poem, The New Colossus,¹ helped shape the image of the United States as a country compassionate toward the needs of those who emigrated to its shores. The United States has more immigrants than any other country in the world, estimated at more than 40 million people.² Roughly 18 million children in the United States have at least 1 immigrant parent.² Most immigrants in the United States arrive with the hope of better educational and economic opportunities.³ Although moving to a new country can offer new opportunities, stability, and safety, there are also challenges. Immigrants experience unique stressors that lead to potentially negative mental health outcomes. After being pushed out of their home country because of stressful circumstances such as violence, severe poverty, and armed conflicts, many individuals then encounter additional stressors after migrating-including discrimination.³.