Carol L Galletly1, Joanna L Barreras2,3, Julia Lechuga4, Laura R Glasman5, Gerardo Cruz3, Julia B Dickson-Gomez6, Ronald A Brooks7, Dulce Maria Ruelas3, Beth Stringfield8, Iván Espinoza-Madrigal9. 1. Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. 2. School of Social Work, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA. 3. Bienestar Human Services Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USA. 4. Public Health Sciences, University of Texas, El Paso, TX, USA. 5. Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. 6. Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Center for Health Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. 7. Wesley Community and Health Centers, Phoenix, AZ, USA. 8. Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. 9. Lawyers for Civil Rights, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We examined Latinx immigrants' perceptions of US policy related to restrictions on immigrants' use of public resources and their thoughts about the influence of these on immigrants' healthcare utilization. DESIGN: A series of 16 focus group discussions with Latinx immigrant men and women (documented and undocumented) (N = 130) were conducted between May and July 2017 across four US cities. RESULTS: Four central themes emerged: participants attributed the limited resources available for affordable healthcare for many uninsured US immigrants (both documented and undocumented) to the US government's view of immigrants as burdens on public resources and its subsequent unwillingness to dedicate funds for their care; participants expressed concerns, some unfounded, about negative immigration ramifications arising from diagnosis with health conditions perceived to be serious and/or expensive to treat; participants noted that some immigrants avoided using health programs and services to which they were entitled because of immigration concerns; finally, participants described how access to information on immigration laws and healthcare resources, and conversely, misinformation about these, influenced healthcare utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Participants were acutely aware of the image of immigrants as public charges or potential burdens on government resources that underlies US immigration policy. In some cases, participants came to inaccurate and potentially harmful conclusions about the substance of laws and regulations based on their beliefs about the government's rejection of immigrants who may burden public resources. This underscores the importance of ensuring that immigrants have access to information on immigration-related laws and regulations and on healthcare resources available to them. Participants noted that access to information also fostered resilience to widespread misinformation. Importantly, however, participants' beliefs had some basis in US immigration policy discourse. Law and policy makers should reconsider legislation and political commentary that frame self-reliance, the guiding principle of US immigration policy, in terms of immigrants' use of publicly funded healthcare resources.
OBJECTIVES: We examined Latinx immigrants' perceptions of US policy related to restrictions on immigrants' use of public resources and their thoughts about the influence of these on immigrants' healthcare utilization. DESIGN: A series of 16 focus group discussions with Latinx immigrant men and women (documented and undocumented) (N = 130) were conducted between May and July 2017 across four US cities. RESULTS: Four central themes emerged: participants attributed the limited resources available for affordable healthcare for many uninsured US immigrants (both documented and undocumented) to the US government's view of immigrants as burdens on public resources and its subsequent unwillingness to dedicate funds for their care; participants expressed concerns, some unfounded, about negative immigration ramifications arising from diagnosis with health conditions perceived to be serious and/or expensive to treat; participants noted that some immigrants avoided using health programs and services to which they were entitled because of immigration concerns; finally, participants described how access to information on immigration laws and healthcare resources, and conversely, misinformation about these, influenced healthcare utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Participants were acutely aware of the image of immigrants as public charges or potential burdens on government resources that underlies US immigration policy. In some cases, participants came to inaccurate and potentially harmful conclusions about the substance of laws and regulations based on their beliefs about the government's rejection of immigrants who may burden public resources. This underscores the importance of ensuring that immigrants have access to information on immigration-related laws and regulations and on healthcare resources available to them. Participants noted that access to information also fostered resilience to widespread misinformation. Importantly, however, participants' beliefs had some basis in US immigration policy discourse. Law and policy makers should reconsider legislation and political commentary that frame self-reliance, the guiding principle of US immigration policy, in terms of immigrants' use of publicly funded healthcare resources.
Authors: Julia Lechuga; Carol L Galletly; Michelle R Broaddus; Julia B Dickson-Gomez; Laura R Glasman; Timothy L McAuliffe; Miriam Y Vega; Sarah LeGrand; Carla A Mena; Morgan L Barlow; Erik Valera; Judith I Montenegro Journal: J Immigr Minor Health Date: 2018-10
Authors: Carol L Galletly; Julia Lechuga; Laura R Glasman; Wayne DiFranceisco; Michelle R Broaddus; Julia B Dickson-Gomez; Timothy L McAuliffe; Miriam Vega; Sara LeGrand; Carla A Mena; Morgan L Barlow; Judith I Montenegro Journal: J Racial Ethn Health Disparities Date: 2019-02-06