Undocumentedness and public policy: The impact on communities, individuals, and families along the Arizona/Sonora border

The focus of this article is the health impact and implications of undocumentedness along the U.S.-Mexico border, particularly the Arizona/Sonora region. We describe the direct and indirect influences of immigration policies on the health of individuals, families, and communities. The Arizona border...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nursing outlook 2015-01, Vol.63 (1), p.77-85
Main Authors: McEwen, Marylyn Morris, Boyle, Joyceen S., Hilfinger Messias, DeAnne K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arizona
Border health
Boundaries
Crime - statistics & numerical data
Emigration and Immigration - legislation & jurisprudence
Families & family life
Health Care Costs - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Identification documents
Immigration policy
Migration
Noncitizens
Nursing
Policy
Public Policy
Uncompensated Care - statistics & numerical data
Undocumentedness
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The focus of this article is the health impact and implications of undocumentedness along the U.S.-Mexico border, particularly the Arizona/Sonora region. We describe the direct and indirect influences of immigration policies on the health of individuals, families, and communities. The Arizona border region maintains close social, cultural, and linguistic ties to Mexico, and the amplified efforts to secure the border have been dramatic on the region and on the people who live there. The 261-mile stretch across the Arizona-Sonora Desert is the most deadly corridor for immigrants crossing into the United States because they are at risk of being killed, kidnapped, and coerced into smuggling drugs or dying in the desert. Gang-related violence is pushing more Central Americans, including unaccompanied minors, to the United States. The impact on individual migrants and their families has been devastating. We examine the health implications of policy and applaud the actions of the Arizona Nurses Association and the American Academy of Nursing to address the health needs of border communities.
ISSN:0029-6554
1528-3968
DOI:10.1016/j.outlook.2014.10.009