Undocumented Immigrants Research Articles

Navigating the Labyrinth of Pregnancy-Related Coverage for Undocumented Immigrants: An Assessment of Current State and Federal Policies.

Insurance coverage for prenatal care, labor and delivery care, and postpartum care for undocumented immigrants consists of a patchwork of state and federal policies, which varies widely by state. According to federal law, states must provide coverage for labor and delivery through Emergency Medicaid. Various states have additional prenatal and postpartum coverage for undocumented immigrants through policy mechanisms such as the Children's Health Insurance Program's "unborn child" option, expansion of Medicaid, and independent state-level mechanisms. Using a search of state Medicaid and federal government websites, we found that 27 states and the District of Columbia provide additional coverage for prenatal care, postpartum care, or both, while 23 states do not. Twelve states include any postpartum coverage; 7 provide coverage for 12 months postpartum. Although information regarding coverage is available publicly online, there exist many barriers to access, such as lack of transparency, lack of availability of information in multiple languages, and incorrect information. More inclusive and easily accessible policies are needed as the first step toward improving maternal health among undocumented immigrants, a population trapped in a complicated web of immigration policy and a maternal health crisis. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print August 15, 2024:e1-e10. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307750).

The UK’s Nationality and Borders Bill Policy: Its Impact on Refugees and Asylum Seekers

The United Kingdom (UK) introduced the Nationality and Borders Bill (2021) to address illegal immigration. This article argues that the UK’s historical asylum policies have contributed to marginalising asylum seekers through a process of “othering.” It demonstrates how policy language and symbols, combined with media discourse, frame asylum seekers as security threats. The power dynamics among public officials and humanitarian agencies further legitimise refugees as the “other.” The article suggests a bottom-up approach involving civil society organisations to incorporate refugee voices in challenging dominant narratives and policymaking. By sharing refugee narratives, this article reveals that refugees are conscious of being marginalised and advocate for policy change. This approach not only empowers them but also helps expose existing stereotypes and power imbalances within mainstream immigration policies.

Migration, Securitization, and State Policies: Evaluating Afghan Irregular Migration and Repatriation Centers in Türkiye

Migration, Securitization, and State Policies: Evaluating Afghan Irregular Migration and Repatriation Centers in Türkiye

Social Motives Towards Illegal Immigration from the Perspective of Graduate Students from Jordanian Universities

Social Motives Towards Illegal Immigration from the Perspective of Graduate Students from Jordanian Universities

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on immigration and immigrant wellbeing in the United States

This article highlights the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on immigration.and immigrant wellbeing in the United States by focusing on all categories of migrants, documented and undocumented. We argue that in the wake of the pandemic, immigrants disproportionately experienced higher rates of unemployment, greater losses of income, more exposure occupational risks, and higher rates of food and housing insecurity, all of which exacerbated preexisting differentials in access to health and health care to generate higher rates of COVID infection, morbidity, and mortality among adults and stunted educational outcomes for their children. The prospects for a full post-pandemic recovery of immigrants' wellbeing are dampened by the severe nature of COVID's negative effects on immigrants; the unusually hostile context of reception immigrants face after the pandemic; the large number of immigrants lacking legal status or holding tenuous documentation; and the formidable deportation regime that prevails in the United States that puts a great strain on immigrant communities. Undocumented migration has surged to restart undocumented population growth, further clouding the future for immigrants in the country. It is unclear whether reforms proposed by the Biden Administration be enacted and successful in improving their prospects. In general, this article aims to contribute to the broader discussion about migration and health policies.

Correction to: Lipman, Francine J. “Taxing Undocumented Immigrants Redux.”

The use of the incorrect spelling of Sarah Lora’s name “Sara” versus the correct spelling “Sarah” appeared three times throughout the article. Changes have been made to replace “Sara” with “Sarah” in three instances. The original article can be found via the DOI https://doi.org/10.5195/taxreview.2024.232

Pandemic Times and Health Care Exclusion: Attitudes Toward Health Care Exclusion of Undocumented Immigrants.

Most of the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States are excluded from government healthcare programs. Yet, healthcare inequities pose significant dangers to all members of society during a pandemic. This project explores to what extent undocumented immigrants, in the context of a pandemic, can be seen as deserving of access to government healthcare programs. The first survey experiment explores whether work ethic can affect perceptions of undocumented immigrants as deserving of government healthcare programs. The second survey experiment tests to what extent appeals to fairness and self-interest, during a pandemic, shape healthcare deservingness attitudes. The results show that respondents view undocumented immigrants as less deserving of healthcare than citizens, even when undocumented immigrants have a solid work history. The second survey experiment, however, shows that appeals to fairness and self-interest trigger substantial increases in support for undocumented immigrants, both among Republicans and Democrats. The results suggest that while undocumented immigrants are seen as less deserving of access, appeals to fairness and self-interest can trigger increased support.

Governing transit and irregular migration: informality and formal policies

ABSTRACT Informality has attracted significant attention in migration studies, yet a fresh look is needed given the succession of world crises over the past 15 years and the increasing use of informality to deal with them. This special issue considers informality as practices of governance that supplement, substitute, replace or operate beyond formal rules. It focuses on dissecting the governance of transit and irregular migration in the liminal space between formal policies and informal practices, and focuses on three major questions: Why and how has migration governance experienced informality’s expansion in policies and practices? What are the drivers, sites, temporalities, and implications of such an expansion? How do power relations among different stakeholders affect such governance compared to normative and institutional logics? This special issue ventures beyond existing constatations that the formal and informal are entangled. A core assertion is that informality can be a deeper structuring force, because informal interactions repeat over time, creating alternative or supplementary forms of governance beyond formal institutions. This collection of articles is original in shedding light on such governance from the perspective of world politics and political regimes, little discussed thus far in systematic ways. It is also at the forefront of theorizing on how stakeholders use mechanisms of power to govern polycentrically, that is from multiple centres related to each other but not hierarchically subordinated. This collection provides novel perspectives on socio-spatial and temporal aspects of informality’s use in such governance. Building on extensive fieldwork and data-driven secondary research, this collection covers Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland, post-socialist countries in Eastern Europe, including Belarus and Russia after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Turkey and Iraq in the Middle East, and Albania in the Balkans, as well as Thailand and Myanmar in Asia.

Ethical and Epistemological Implications of Conducting Ethnographic Fieldwork as a Researcher-cum-Clinician in Brussels, Belgium

ABSTRACT We draw on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Brussels (Belgium) on the health care experiences of undocumented migrants. We explore the implications of the double position of the ethnographer, who is both a researcher and a practicing doctor. We describe how the intimate knowledge the ethnographer-cum-clinician holds about the health care system influenced and shaped the data collection, analysis and subsequent policy recommendations. We examine the ethical dilemmas in conducting research from an engaged position about care practices toward vulnerable populations in one’s own professional field. We conclude with recommendations on how to challenge and interrupt complexities faced by multi-positioned ethnographers.

Illegális migrációhoz kapcsolódó jogellenes cselekmények, avagy két ügy, egy eset

The author provides an overview of two recent Hungarian illegal immigration cases, followed an identity check.

‘I found everything in them’: Formation of migrant networks and social capital

AbstractThis paper explores the issue of creation of migrant networks in different contexts along the Eastern Mediterranean route and the Balkans. Drawing on 27 qualitative interviews and ethnographic fieldwork, it uncovers the information about migration journeys and the ways how social capital is transferred among migrants. The paper sheds light on the role of social networks, their influence on strategies, behaviour patterns and resource allocation during migration. The findings underscore different benefits of using migrant networks, highlighting their role in providing crucial support as well as increasing safety and supporting migrants' well‐being. Moreover, the shared identity forged through these networks enhances migrants' resilience, empowering migrants to navigate challenges more effectively. These empirical findings challenge the narratives of migration being individualistic and contribute to the literature on creation, dynamics, and benefits of networks of irregular transit migration, highlighting the differences from other migrant networks.

Impact and Implications of Solid Organ Transplant of Undocumented Immigrants versus Transplant Tourists on the Transplant Center and OPTN National Policy Development

Impact and Implications of Solid Organ Transplant of Undocumented Immigrants versus Transplant Tourists on the Transplant Center and OPTN National Policy Development

Human Rights in the Context of Global Migration

Purpose: The general objective of the study was to explore human rights in the context of global migration. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to human rights in the context of global migration. Preliminary empirical review revealed that global migration is deeply intertwined with significant human rights issues that vary across different regions and migrant populations. Migrants, regardless of their reasons for moving or legal status, frequently faced exploitation, discrimination, inadequate access to essential services, and social exclusion. The study emphasized that these human rights violations were often systemic and influenced by broader socio-political and economic structures. It highlighted the pervasive nature of rights violations at multiple stages of the migration process and pointed out substantial gaps in the implementation and enforcement of international frameworks designed to protect migrants. Specific groups, such as women, children, and undocumented migrants, were identified as particularly vulnerable, necessitating tailored interventions. The study argued that protecting migrants' human rights was both a moral and pragmatic necessity for fostering inclusive societies and called for a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to work collaboratively towards this goal. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Human Rights Theory, Push- Pull Theory of Migration and Social Capital Theory may be used to anchor future studies on global migration. The study recommended further development of migration and human rights theories to account for the complexities of contemporary migration flows, suggesting interdisciplinary approaches to enhance theoretical frameworks. Practically, it underscored the need for targeted support services for vulnerable migrant groups, the creation of safe migration pathways, and the establishment of specialized services addressing their unique needs. Policy recommendations included the adoption of comprehensive national and international policies that uphold the rights of all migrants, the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws, and the establishment of independent monitoring bodies. The study advocated for enhanced international cooperation to address migration challenges and suggested investing in data collection and research for informed policy-making. It also recommended promoting public awareness and education campaigns to foster inclusive attitudes towards migrants and counteract negative stereotypes, aiming to create a more just and humane global migration system.

Health-Related Quality of Life Among Irregular Sub-Saharan Migrants in Northern Morocco.

Due to its geographical proximity to Europe, Morocco experiences a significant influx of migrants from neighboring Sub-Saharan African countries. Attempts to cross the Strait of Gibraltar make Northern Morocco a stopover for Sub-Saharan migrants. However, faced with increasingly restrictive measures from European Union countries, many of these migrants are compelled to turn this transit into a prolonged stay in Morocco, often in irregular status and facing challenging socio-economic conditions that threaten their health and their quality of life-related to health. This study aims to assess the level of health-related quality of life and its determinants among irregular Sub-Saharan migrants in Northern Morocco using the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) measurement scale. A total of 526 irregular Sub-Saharan migrants residing in the cities of Tangier and Tetouan were recruited using snowball sampling. A socio-demographic information sheet and the SF-36 scale were used to collect data. Subsequently, the data were entered and statistically analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 21.0; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY). Numerical variables were summarized as mean ± standard deviation and categorical variables as frequency and percentage. Non-parametric tests, including the Mann-Whitney U test and Kendall's Tau-B, were used to measure the association of physical and mental component scores with sociodemographic variables, for a significance level set at p < 0.05. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to identify factors determining health-related quality of life, using odds ratios (OR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI) for p < 0.05. Participants were aged between 18 and 50 years, with a mean age of 29.7 ± 7.6 years; 80% were single, and the majority were male (63.7%). In terms of education, 57.2% have a secondary level. The physical (PCS = 46.5 ± 9.03) and mental (MCS = 35.5 ± 9.9) summary scores were low. PCS and MCS were lower among subjects aged ≥ 36 years compared to those aged 18-25 years (p = 0.000). Women had lower PCS than men (p = 0.002). The migrants having more than three years in Morocco had lower MCS compared to those recently settled (p = 0.002). PCS and MCS were lower among participants who were assaulted compared to those who were not (p = 0.000). Multivariate logistic regression results showed that age, type of habitat, and assault significantly affected both PCS and MCS scores. Gender is a significant determinant for PCS and duration of stay in Morocco for MCS. The quality of life of Sub-Saharan irregular migrants appears to be low, particularly concerning the mental health component, highlighting the need for priority interventions in this area to improve their health status.

Unpacking policy effects on the smuggling industry: a postfunctionalist examination

Evidence from different countries show that increasingly restrictive policies such as the criminalisation of migrant smuggling and the externalisation of border controls to countries of origin and transit of migratory flows, often re-sult in more sophisticated organisational structures, causing the replacement of small-scale decentralised organisations with larger hierarchical structures. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 20 professionals involved in undocu-mented migration, this study aims to assess the impacts of bilateral policy changes between 2016 and 2021 on the smuggling industry in the Mediterra-nean through a postfunctionalist theoretical perspective. The Italy-Libya Memorandum of Understanding and the EU-Turkey agreement prompted changes in migrants' routes arriving in Greece and Italy, leading to a shift in demand for smuggling services from certain countries to others. As the find-ings suggest, the Italy-Libya agreement increased the demand for smugglers operating in Tunisia, while the EU-Turkey agreement reinforced traditional methods of unauthorised movement relying on smuggling networks.

The regularisation industry: a qualitative analysis of the legal-administrative intermediation field

The bureaucratic management of the legal and administrative statuses of mi-grants is a pervasive yet scarcely researched aspect of the migratory experi-ence. This article describes the field of intermediation services for migrants, with a particular focus on legal and bureaucratic support. Using the 2020 regu-larization of irregular migrant workers in Italy as a case study, it shows that actors related to this emerging segment of the ‘migration industry' are not only concerned with facilitating migrants' physical border crossings but also that intermediation services increasingly involve the crossing of internal borders, particularly between different (il)legal migration statuses. The article describes the field of legal-administrative status-intermediation, highlighting the different actors involved, who differ widely in their legal competency and the degree to which they marketize their services. The article argues that the com-bination of legal uncertainty and the specific features of the institutional and regulatory framework concerning intermediation services in Italy creates space for the emergence and expansion of for-profit actors. These actors oper-ate on a sliding scale between legal and illegal, formal and informal service-provision, ranging from commercial intermediation to illicit practices and fraud. Additionally, the article shows increasing forms of competition and ten-sion between non-profit and for-profit actors in the field. The analysis is based on 45 interviews with different actors of civil society, employers and migrants involved in the amnesty. The article looks at the migration industry as a field of intermediation in a context marked by the pandemic and on the forms of embeddedness of irregular migrants in local society.

The end of Mexico–US migration as we knew it – or back to the future?

Over the last decade, scholars have declared the collapse of the Mexico–US system of undocumented migration. The H2 visa programme, a regime of managed sojourning is replacing the system of unauthorized cross-border mobility. In fiscal year 2023, the US government issued nearly 370,000 H2 temporary work visas to Mexicans. This temporary migrant labour programme is also bringing back circulation, temporary legal stays, and mostly male cross-border mobility – features that are akin to the old Bracero Program (1942–64). We contend that the restoration of these legal and sociodemographic dynamics undermines critical pillars of the system of undocumented labour mobility, limiting and reorienting the role of social networks, and potentially ending the way Mexico–United States has functioned for the past half century. We use ethnographic, interview and survey data to analyse the expansion of this new regime of highly mediated cross-border mobility, the ascent of the brokerage apparatus, and its effect transforming the social infrastructure of migration. We ask, specifically, how does the H2 temporary migrant labour programme constrain and diminish kin and hometown-based social networks, previously seen as ‘the engine of migration’? How does the shift from migrant networks to a brokerage apparatus impact trust, reciprocity and the development of migratory social capital? How is the new regime changing the experience of migration – substituting risk and adventure for certainty and routinized movement? How does the H2 temporary migrant labour programme revert the locus of social reproduction of the labour force back to sending communities, preempting integration at the destination? We frame the answers to these questions in the emerging migration industry and infrastructures paradigm, which examines to the role of migrant and non-migrant actors in the facilitation, control and overall mediation and structuring of cross-border mobility.

The challenge of irregular migration in the Aegean Sea: an analysis of its causes, impact, and solutions

The challenge of irregular migration in the Aegean Sea: an analysis of its causes, impact, and solutions

Effective Stance in Conservative Newspaper Opinion Articles on Irregular Immigration and Refugee Humanitarian Crises

This paper presents a quantitative and contrastive analysis of expressions of effective stance in conservative newspaper opinion articles related to irregular immigration and humanitarian crises involving refugees in both English and Spanish contexts. Drawing upon the seminal works of Langacker (2013) and Marín-Arrese (2021a, 2021b, 2023), the study examines six fundamental categories of effective stance expressions established according to factors such as orientation towards self or others, degree of control about the realisation of the event, and agreement with social norms. The dataset under examination comprises a 120,000-word corpus of opinion articles obtained from two conservative newspapers, The Telegraph from the United Kingdom and El Mundo from Spain. The words are evenly distributed, with each newspaper contributing 30,000 words in articles pertaining to three humanitarian crises involving refugees: Syria (2015), Afghanistan (2021), and Ukraine (2022-2023), and 30,000 words relating to articles on irregular immigration coinciding in time with each of the three refugee crises. The primary objective of the paper is to discern notable differences between the two newspapers and across the different refugee and irregular immigration crises under investigation. The analysis of the results, which uncover a larger number of effective stance expressions in the English subcorpus as well as distributional differences of subcategories across the subcorpora in both languages, provides a valuable understanding of the intricate patterns of usage and distribution of effective stance expressions within the realm of newspaper discourse, thereby enriching our comprehension of journalistic portrayals concerning the complexity of refugee crises and migratory movements.

Indonesia's Efforts as a Transit Country in Handling Irregular Migration through the Bali Process

Migration, or the movement of people from their country of origin to another country, is not a new phenomenon in human life. Transnational crime occurs not only due to free trade factors and weak law enforcement but also due to the geographical conditions of the country itself. This research aims to analyse and determine Indonesia's efforts to handle irregular migration as an implementation of the Bali Process. This research uses a type of qualitative research that is descriptive analysis. The data collection techniques used in this research are secondary documents and internet-based techniques. The results of the research show that Indonesia's efforts to deal with irregular migration can be carried out with preventive and repressive efforts as stated in Article 89, paragraphs 1. 2, and 3. Cooperation between Indonesia and Australia to deal with irregular migration in the Bali Process has resulted in several equal partnerships in an MOU. Efforts to handle and protect irregular migration in the Bali process are carried out by taking into account the policies of each country with a comprehensive regional approach in accordance with the principles of Burden sharing and collective responsibility. Cooperation between Australia and Indonesia uses the basic assumptions contained in the theory of institutional liberalism put forward by Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye, in the form of: 1. Trust in Cooperation, 2. International regime, 3. Complex dependency, and 4. Interdependence.