Negotiating the policy web in providing care to the immigrant population

This presentation will discuss the impact of emerging immigration policies on the provision of health care to immigrants. Changing immigration policies are a major concern for health departments and other safety net providers who provide care for immigrants. The delivery of health services challenges all providers but especially safety net providers and health departments because of their commitment to the poor and underserved. As the number of immigrants increases and immigration policy continues to be the subject of intense national debate, public health nurses need to increase their knowledge of the impact of federal/state policy decisions on care delivery. A Pew Hispanic Center's analysis of the March 2005 Current Population Survey shows that an estimated 11.1 million unauthorized immigrants (5 million are the children of unauthorized families) live in the US. The 32.5 million immigrants (legal and illegal) in the US (2005) constitute the highest number ever recorded in immigration history. In 2006, 570 pieces of legislation concerning immigrants were introduced in state legislatures around the country. At least 90 bills and resolutions passed the legislatures in 2006. 84 bills were signed into law, double the amount of 2005. Many states focused on immigrants' access to public benefits, such as health and education. Another interesting trend impacting care delivery is that immigrants no longer remain in border states. Such states as Maryland and Virginia have joined Texas and California in experiencing a surge in the immigrant population.