American Journal of Public Health
Volume 105, Issue 2, 2015, Pages 329-337

The impact of local immigration enforcement policies on the health of immigrant Hispanics/Latinos in the United States (Article)

Rhodes S.D.* , Mann L. , Simán F.M. , Song E. , Alonzo J. , Downs M. , Lawlor E. , Martinez O. , Sun C.J. , O'Brien M.C. , Reboussin B.A. , Hall M.A.
  • a Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1063, United States
  • b Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1063, United States
  • c El Pueblo, Inc., Raleigh, NC, United States
  • d Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1063, United States
  • e Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1063, United States
  • f Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1063, United States
  • g School of Geography and Development, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States
  • h HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • i Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1063, United States
  • j Department of Emergency Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, United States
  • k Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, United States
  • l Wake Forest University School of Law, United States

Abstract

Objectives. We sought to understand how local immigration enforcement policies affect the utilization of health services among immigrant Hispanics/ Latinos in North Carolina. Methods. In 2012, we analyzed vital records data to determine whether local implementation of section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Secure Communities program, which authorizes local law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration laws, affected the prenatal care utilization of Hispanics/Latinas. We also conducted 6 focus groups and 17 interviews with Hispanic/Latino persons across North Carolina to explore the impact of immigration policies on their utilization of health services. Results. We found no significant differences in utilization of prenatal care before and after implementation of section 287(g), but we did find that, in individual-level analysis, Hispanic/Latina mothers sought prenatal care later and had inadequate care when compared with non-Hispanic/Latina mothers. Participants reported profound mistrust of health services, avoiding health services, and sacrificing their health and the health of their family members. Conclusions. Fear of immigration enforcement policies is generalized across counties. Interventions are needed to increase immigrant Hispanics/Latinos' understanding of their rights and eligibility to utilize health services. Policy-level initiatives are also needed (e.g., driver's licenses) to help undocumented persons access and utilize these services.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

information processing prenatal care human epidemiology middle aged North Carolina statistics and numerical data health service health status policy Aged Hispanic Americans interview United States Young Adult Humans migrant Hispanic Adolescent Interviews as Topic male Emigrants and Immigrants Aged, 80 and over very elderly health services legislation and jurisprudence adult migration utilization Emigration and Immigration Focus Groups public policy law enforcement
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84921893409&doi=10.2105%2fAJPH.2014.302218&partnerID=40&md5=91aa45a6d1bf98fd8618501ec3326bbc
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302218
ISSN: 00900036
Cited by: 90
Original Language: English