Undocumented Immigrants and the Inclusive Health Policies of Sanctuary Cities

Abstract

Undocumented immigration remains the subject of contentious debate in the United States. While this debate has increasingly focused on the cultural, economic, and national security concerns raised by undocumented immigration, the work of several cities has highlighted the human side to this debate. Drawing from three months of field work and 21 semi-structured interviews at an emergency shelter in Central Texas, this paper discusses the inclusive health policies of so-called “sanctuary cities.” The inclusive health policies of sanctuary cities, including the establishment of city health insurance and healthcare programs, has the potential to bridge a widening gap in health outcomes between undocumented individuals and their native-born or authorized counterparts. These local policies extend a form of membership to undocumented immigrants and inform new directions for federal immigration enforcement policies, including an enhanced focus on the specific health needs of undocumented immigrants alongside the securitization of national borders. To ensure adequate care of undocumented immigrants, inclusive health policies should be increasingly pursued by local and federal levels of government in tandem.

Application of Postcolonial Feminist Theory, Chicana Feminist Thought, and Black Feminist Thought in Analyzing the Mental Health Needs of Latina Migrant Farmworkers

“…22 Sanctuary cities offer health care resources to ensure that undocumented immigrants may access primary care and enroll in preventative care. 31 Overcoming the ACA's exclusion of undocumented immigrants, the Massachusetts health reform of 2006 allows income-eligible state residents of any documentation status to receive services through programs such as the Health Safety Net (HSN) and Commonwealth Care (CommCare). 22 These initiatives exemplify local efforts to promote health equity for undocumented immigrants.…”

“…30 The US economy and public health would benefit from reforms allowing undocumented immigrants equitable access to health care services. 31 Therefore, health care professionals, politicians, stakeholders, and advocacy groups, among others, must work together on policy solutions that foster human rights and uphold social justice. 29 The nursing code of ethics from the American Nurses Association and the International Council of Nurses mandates that one of roles of nurses is to advocate for social justice.…”

“…4 Inclusive health policies would also help close the social gap by acknowledging that undocumented immigrants deserve access to shared resources and benefits. 31 Deficiencies in current health policies are reflected in the literature, including the ACA and the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. Exclusionary policies jeopardize the progressive effort in the United States to encourage social solidarity and widen health outcomes between undocumented individuals and their nativeborn counterparts.…”

“…Exclusionary policies jeopardize the progressive effort in the United States to encourage social solidarity and widen health outcomes between undocumented individuals and their nativeborn counterparts. 31,34 Immigration remains a complex subject, yet leveraging local resources in states willing to support undocumented immigrants; health is one temporary solution. Sanctuary cities and local government health care services, especially in a climate of continuous antimigratory rhetoric, serve to mitigate undocumented immigrants' health burden.…”

Inmigración indocumentada y salud en la era Trump: Prácticas locales de bienvenida al norte de Texas

“…Esta problemática visualizada desde un lente estatal dificulta, sin embargo, ahondar en posibles contrastes políticos al interior de cada estado (Aboii, 2014). Los estudios enfocados en lo local adquieren im-1 Integradas por madre y/o padre inmigrante y descendencia nacida en Estados Unidos.…”