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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Edward Zuroweste, MD¹, Amy K. Liebman, MA, MPA¹, and Timothy J. Dunn, PhD². (1) Migrant Clinicians Network, 878 N. Allen St., State College, PA 16803, (814) 238-6566, kugelzur@migrantclinician.org, (2) Department of Sociology, Salisbury University, 1101 Camden Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21801

Foreign-born workers now account for 1 in every 7 workers in the US. Growth in the immigrant workforce is projected to continue to increase. The majority are Hispanic workers from Latin America who experience a disproportionately high injury rate. Among workers born in Latin America, the risk of fatal injury is 40% higher than the risk for the average US-born worker. In addition, foreign-born workers suffer numerous abuses both at the workplace and during migration from their country to the US. In 2004 alone, 325 persons are reported to have died while crossing the US-Mexico border in search better economic opportunities. The leading causes of death were heat stroke, dehydration, and hypothermia Improved immigration policies and safety efforts, as well as better access to health care are needed. Yet legislation and policies targeting immigrants hinder efforts to diminish human rights abuses and improve worker health and safety. In July 2005, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents posing as Occupational Safety and Health Administration trainers arrested 48 undocumented construction workers lured to a bogus training workshop. Worker advocates criticized these sting tactics on the grounds that they increase workers' distrust of safety officials, weakening opportunities for improved workplace safety. ICE officials refuse to rule out using similar ploys to entice immigrant workers. Moreover, recent federal and state legislation seeks to further disenfranchise immigrant workers, to deny immigrants access to health care and to force clinicians and other service providers to obtain documentation of citizenship before caring for immigrants.

Learning Objectives:

• 1) Describe with the major trends in immigration to US and the primary factors driving this demographic shift.
• 2) Recognize the current US immigration policies and the resulting implications for human rights and the right to health care.
• 3) Discuss the public health consequences and implications to health care providers and immigrant workers if clinicians are required to obtain proof of citizenship before treating patients.

Keywords: Immigrants, Human Rights

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation