Translational behavioral medicine
Volume 9, Issue 6, 2019, Pages 1244-1247

Society of Behavioral Medicine Position Statement: Congress should protect immigrants seeking health care (Article)

Behrman P. , Fitzgibbon M. , Buscemi J. , Sanchez-Johnsen L. , Laroche H. , Yanez B. , Gonzales R. , Gwede C.K. , Raja S. , Jacobson L. , Gil-Rivas V. , Tam-Ashing K.
  • a Department of Psychology, College of Mount Saint Vincent, Bronx, NY, USA
  • b University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, United States
  • c DePaul University, Chicago, United States
  • d University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, United States
  • e Carver School of Medicine, University of Iowa Health Care, IA, Iowa City, United States
  • f Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, United States
  • g Doctoral Program in Health Psychology, University of Texas at El Paso, TX, El Paso, United States
  • h Moffitt Cancer Center, FL, Tampa, United States
  • i University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, United States
  • j University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, United States
  • k University of North Carolina-CharlotteCharlotte, United States
  • l City of Hope Medical Center, CA, Duarte, United States

Abstract

According to the Migration Policy Institute (2019), as of 2017 the USA was home to approximately 44 million immigrants, the largest number of immigrants in the world. Most of these immigrants relocate from Mexico, India, China, the Philippines, El Salvador, Vietnam, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. Since 2017, there have been increased reports of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) interventions toward immigrants, especially at and near previously delineated "safe areas" such as medical facilities, as immigrants sought health care. Currently, health care providers are reporting delays and reductions in health care seeking by immigrants. This increases risks of untreated health problems for the immigrants themselves as well as their communities. To protect the health of immigrants, and the general public, the Society of Behavioral Medicine joins the American College of Physicians (2011) and the American Medical Association (2017) in recommending that Congress impose restrictions on ICE interventions in or around medical facilities. © Society of Behavioral Medicine 2019. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected].

Author Keywords

immigrants Health care seeking ICE interventions

Index Keywords

behavioral medicine medical society controlled study human China Viet Nam immigrant Cuba India Mexico Article health care personnel Dominican Republic college Philippines immigration El Salvador
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85075814146&doi=10.1093%2ftbm%2fibz119&partnerID=40&md5=24d1ccda719811162ef2d76bc84a641b
DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibz119
ISSN: 16139860
Original Language: English