Deportation Experiences of Women Who Inject Drugs in Tijuana, Mexico

Abstract

Deportation from the United States for drug offenses is common, yet the consequences of deportation for women drug users are poorly documented. In 2008, in Tijuana, Mexico, we conducted an exploratory qualitative study of migration, deportation, and drug abuse by interviewing 12 Mexican injection-drug-using women reporting U.S. deportation. Women reported heavy drug use before and after deportation, but greater financial instability and physical danger following deportation than when in the United States. We identified an unmet need for health and social services among deported drug-using women, including HIV prevention, drug treatment, physical and mental health services, and vocational training. Binational coordination is needed to help deported women resettle in Mexico.

A critical review of social and structural conditions that influence HIV risk among Mexican deportees

“…Many deportees have been long-term residents [6, 10]. Some were taken to the US as youths [10, 38]. These migrants were raised in the US, attending public schools, speaking English, and adopting American culture and customs.…”

“…Deportees may be inserted to unfamiliar environments. Immediately following deportation, deportees are left to fend for themselves with few belongings or money, a secure place to spend the night, and difficulties communicating with family members [9, 10, 38]. Many deportees lack cultural familiarity with their native countries, may not speak the language, or may lack local social and family connections in the receiving country [9, 22, 38].…”

“…This can be a traumatic experience for many. Deported Mexican migrants regularly describe intense feelings of fear, social and cultural displacement, isolation, frustration, and disorientation with their new environments [9, 38, 39]. Such sentiments can influence engagement in risky activities as a form of coping mechanism.…”

“…Drug use and unsafe sexual practices have been linked to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and separation from spouses, children, and extended family among deportees [9, 10, 38]. Qualitative interviews were conducted among deported male (N=24)[9] and female (N=12)[39] IDUs in Tijuana in 2011 and 2012, respectively.…”

“…A small body of data suggests that Mexican migrants who are expelled from the US and returned to their home countries (i.e., deportees) may be at even greater risk for HIV [6-8]. Post-deportation, individuals face multiple psychological, emotional, and economic stressors that influence their mental and physical health, including HIV vulnerability [7-10]. In the US, deportation of foreigners has increased four-fold since the 1990s; Mexican nationals account for the majority of deportees (>75%) [11], mainly because they make up the largest undocumented population in the US [12].…”