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Abstract #166283

Christina Trimmer¹, Lorraine Navarrete, BA¹, Selena Ortiz, BA², and Bryna Koch, MPH³. (1) Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 245163, Tucson, AZ 85724, 970-231-4579, ctrimmer@email.arizona.edu, (2) Center for Health Equality, Project EXPORT, University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman School of Public Health, 1295 N. Martin Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, (3) Pima Prevention Partnership, 2525 E. Broadway, Suite 100, Tucson, AZ 85716

While the U.S. has witnessed an increase in legislation to curb undocumented migration, political efforts have only succeeded in the militarization of the border, forcing immigrants to cross the harsh desert regions of the country, resulting in over 2,000 deaths of men, women, and children since 1995. Immigration is often discussed in a political context; however, it involves other issues rarely considered outside this framework, one being the deaths along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Global Health Alliance (GHA), a student organization dedicated to improving the well-being of diverse populations, organized a symposium to recognize border deaths at the U.S.-Mexico border as a major public health crisis. A diverse panel of experts, faculty, and students gathered to discuss the hazards of border crossing and the impact of border deaths on individuals, families, and communities. Main outcomes of the symposium included: 1.) The need to address the root causes of immigration; 2.) Recognizing that border security and immigration policies influence border deaths; 3.) Encouraging a human-rights based approach to address migration and border deaths (versus criminalization). As a result, the GHA crafted guidelines to be shared with other public health institutions, colleges, and community-serving organizations to develop their own policy statements regarding border deaths. The GHA is the first student organization at the University of Arizona to raise awareness on the issue of border deaths and its relevance to public health. It is important to recognize the role student organizations have in mobilizing universities to address critical issues in their own communities.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify at least three alternative frameworks to address border deaths and immigration.
• Describe the root causes of the unprecedented increase in border deaths at the U.S.-Mexico border since 1995.
• Discuss the root causes of immigration as characterized by the alternative frameworks.
• Identify and analyze current policies that are barriers to reducing the number of border deaths.
• Recognize the importance of student participation in organizing and facilitating a public forum to raise awareness of pertinent issues and using the outcomes to influence policy development.

Keywords: Immigration, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.