How immigration enforcement negatively affects Hispanic health

Immigration enforcement policies have a negative effect on Hispanic immigrant health–and that is true both both undocumented and documented individuals.

According to new research published in the American Journal of Public Health, fear of enforcement polices, coupled with a lack of understanding pertaining to immigration law, prevents many Hispanic immigrants from seeking timely health care.

SEE ALSO: Some Hispanic immigrants are more likely to have children with autism

“Our findings suggest that immigration enforcement policies negatively affect the health of immigrant Hispanics, including those with and without documentation,” said Scott D. Rhodes, Ph.D., M.P.H., lead author of the study, in a press release. “Overall, participants reported fearing immigration enforcement policies and avoiding or delaying utilization of health services, thus endangering their own health and that of their families.”

During the research, Rhodes and his team found Hispanic participants were fearful of immigration law because they knew changes were taking place but had no practical understanding of their rights or if they would be impacted. One such change is the implementation of Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which, according to the Department of Homeland Security, allows state law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws during routine procedures.

The reason for the new immigration enforcement policy, according to Homeland Security, is because: “State and local law enforcement play a critical role in protecting our homeland because they are often the first responders on the scene when there is an incident or attack against the United States. During the course of daily duties, they will often encounter foreign-born criminals and immigration violators who pose a threat to national security or public safety.”

This new delegation of authority to local jurisdictions can be easily misunderstood to mean local authorities are actively looking for immigrants–undocumented or otherwise–to target during daily activities. Since  health care facilities are often linked to public health and safety, this prevents many Hispanics from trusting health care providers for fear they will be persecuted because of immigration status.

During the study, Rhodes looked at health care for Hispanic immigrants in states adopting Section 287(g). What he found was that inadequate prenatal care increased significantly among Hispanic mothers compared to non-Hispanic mothers after law implementation. Though the team looked primarily at prenatal care for their research, they speculate all areas of Hispanic immigrant health care are suffering similarly.

SEE ALSO: Here’s where Hispanic immigrants stand when it comes to health insurance

The best way to combat the issue, say experts, is to increase Hispanic out reach when it comes to new immigration enforcement policies. Hispanic immigrants need to know they are not being targeted; the law only allows local law enforcement the ability to use federal jurisdiction if they are in a situation that warrants it.

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