For those working to support immigrant youth, communications can be particularly fraught. Any discussion about immigrants must contend with a deeply held, highly durable Us vs. Them mindset that leads to xenophobia and racism. This exclusionary thinking is compounded by the tendency to view adolescents as inherently “other.”

However, American mindsets about adolescents and immigrants are complex and even contradictory. Alongside the assumption that adolescence is a time of danger is the perception that it is also a period of remarkable opportunity.

This framing brief is a contribution to the effort to protect and build support for immigrant youths’ wellbeing. Grounded in the FrameWorks Institute’s extensive research on mindsets and reframing strategies, it draws on insights into how Americans think about both adolescence and immigration. By identifying the narratives that perpetuate othering and offering tools to challenge them, it provides a framework for advocates to consistently activate a “we” mindset— one that reinforces belonging and shared fate, rather than division.