Recent research has shown that immigration policies – often viewed as forms of structural racism – affect the social, economic, and health prospects for Latiné communities in the United States. In the past decade, there has been an increase in restrictive immigration policies from both political parties, which can substantially impact the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. This issue has made its way into the 2024 Presidential election and campaign messages, suggesting that these exclusionary policies might become even stricter depending on the results of the November election.
In a study published in the Journal BMC Public Health, corresponding author, Alana LeBrón, PhD, associate professor of health, society, and behavior at the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health, examined how Mexican-born women living in Detroit navigate restrictive immigration policies that hinder access to health-promoting resources and care for their well-being.
LeBrón and the team found that the women reported facing a complex network of lengthy processes that used racial markers to determine their legal status and eligibility for health-promoting resources. Due to these racialized assumptions, many women faced difficulties in proving their eligibility for healthcare and other services, which added stress and uncertainty to their lives.
The team conducted in-depth interviews with 48 Mexican-born women in Detroit, who were either first-generation immigrants, those who came to the U.S. as children, or second-generation immigrants. The interviews took place in 2013-2014 and were conducted in either English or Spanish, depending on the participants’ preferences. The interviews were held at community-based organizations or other convenient locations for the participants to ensure these conversations were conducted in a safe and trusting environment.
Our findings underscore the strength and resourcefulness of Mexican-origin women in the face of structural violence and exclusionary policies.”
– Alana LeBrón, MS, PhD
“Given the current hostile climate around immigration policies and their impacts on Latiné communities, we thought it was important to revisit these data sets with a lens towards individual and collective strategies to care for themselves, family, and community,” said LeBron who also has an appointment with the Department of Chicano/Latino Studies at the UC Irvine School of Social Sciences. “We hope these findings will help us to move beyond uni-directional assessments of impacts of exclusionary immigration and immigrant policies.”
The study found that despite these difficulties, the individual and collective strategies employed by Mexican-born women to combat racism and protect their right to access essential health services include maintaining access to resources, limiting labeling and stigmatization, mitigating adverse impacts of immigrant policing, and strengthening their social networks.
“Our findings underscore the strength and resourcefulness of Mexican-origin women in the face of structural violence and exclusionary policies,” LeBrón said. “Whether it was their advocacy for themselves and their families, understanding their legal rights, or leaning on their social networks, the women in Detroit showcased a diverse array of strategies.”
This research is particularly relevant given the current climate of anti-immigrant rhetoric and increasingly restrictive immigration policies. The study highlights the intricate relationship between immigration policies, social networks, and access to health resources. It emphasizes the need for inclusive policies that promote the health of immigrant communities.
Additional authors include Amy J. Schulz and Barbara A. Israel from the University of Michigan; and Cindy Gamboa, Angela Reyes, and Edna Viruell-Fuentes from the University of Illinois.
This research was supported by the Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture, and Health (CRECH); Rackham Graduate School; Transportation Research Institute; Center for the Education of Women; Institute for Research on Women and Gender, National Center for Institutional Diversity at the University of Michigan, National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R-25-058641), and the NIH Loan Repayment Program.
