Healthcare Inequality for Unauthorized Immigrants BY ANUSHKA BHATIA '24 Cover image: People using mobile phones. Mobile computing and communication is one of the modern technologies driving innovation in developing and least-developed countries. Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
An Introduction to the Impact of Unauthorized Status on Health As immigration into the United States increases, so does the number of unauthorized immigrants. Immigrants make up over 43.2 million of the U.S. population, and over 10.7 million have unauthorized status (Fortuny et al., 2010). Over the last two decades, there has been an increased focus on immigration status, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials heavily focused on enacting workplace raids, detention, and deportation. 77.1% of likely undocumented immigrants reported deportation fears on average from 2007 to 2018 (Asad, 2020). Immigrant families are already at a higher risk for health issues due to the inaccessibility of health insurance, but other factors resulting from their undocumented status play into their exacerbated risk such as lack of knowledge, confusion over regulations, and discrimination (Karp et al., 2007). The tension surrounding immigration status
32
has created an anxious climate for unauthorized immigrants, with fears of deportation manifesting themselves both physically and mentally. A study of providers who care for unauthorized immigrants found that over 40% of medical practitioners reported negative health effects of ICE activities on their unauthorized immigrant patients. This pervasive fear of ICE leads to healthcare avoidance, stress, and anxiety, which all contribute to mental health issues and physical manifestations of stress (Hacker et al., 2012). However, ICE is not the only factor that may have negative effects on physical health. Unauthorized immigrants often work jobs with poor conditions, leading to injuries or long-term health issues like joint pain or chemical inhalation. They may also have to switch jobs often or face long commutes to get to work, increasing the amount of strain on their body. The fatality rate of agricultural farm workers, 55 percent of which are immigrants (“Farm Labor”, USDA), is over five times that of all workers, and conditions like chronic pain, heart disease, and many cancers are higher in this DARTMOUTH UNDERGRADUATE JOURNAL OF SCIENCE
