Health Effects of Immigrant Detention & Deportation

Transcription

1 Health Effects of Immigrant Detention & Deportation Betzabel Estudillo Health Policy Manager California Immigrant Policy Center Presentation adapted from Health Effects of Immigration Detention and Deportation by Jessica Cabrera (CIYJA), Stacy Suh (CIPC) and updated by: California immigrant Health Network (CIHN), Sandy Valenciano (CIYJA), and Betzabel Estudillo (CIPC)

2 Founded in 1996, CIPC is a non-partisan, non-profit statewide organization that seeks to inform public debate and policy decisions on issues affecting the state s immigrants and their families in order to improve the quality of life for all Californians. CIPC engages in policy advocacy, and provides technical assistance, training and education on immigrant issues.

3 Presentation Objectives Understanding Pol-ICE entanglement, detention, and deportation Shared analysis of immigration detention and deportation systems Immigration enforcement policies impact on health of immigrant communities What immigrant rights advocates in CA are doing to fight against detention and deportation of immigrants

4 Anti-Immigrant Climate These are difficult times for immigrant families Trump has signed various Executive Orders advancing aggressive immigration enforcement, and threatening sanctuary cities, and made comments related to access to public benefits. Administration targeting of immigrants, scare tactics, and draconian detention and deportation machine has caused increased fear and anxiety in immigrant families. Immigrant families are fearful of enrolling and utilizing health and public benefits o o o Missing appointments, or doctor visits Asking to be disenroll from health and public benefit programs Confusion about administrative actions and changes to public charge

5 Immigration Enforcement in the last 10 years 2008: Secure Communities (S-COMM) 2013: TRUST Act (AB 4 Ammiano) 2014: Priority Enforcement Program (PEP) 2016: TRUTH Act (AB Bonta) 2017: SB 54 (de Leon) and SB 244 (Lara) More than 2.8 million deportations occurred under the Obama administration and deportations continue to take place under this administration

6 President s Executive Actions & Intentions Executive Order on Muslim Ban o Reduces refugee admission o Indefinite ban on Syrian refugees Executive Orders on Immigration Enforcement Policies o Border Wall o Pursuit of Undocumented Immigrants Leaked Executive Order on Public Charge o Background o What is Public Charge? o What does the leaked EO include?

7 Challenges & Barriers Faced By Immigrant Communities Fear of deportation/detention Sharing of info with state agencies Fleeing from violence/persecution Lack of culturally competent providers Navigating health care system in the US Anxiety, stress, depression, uncertainty Lack of in-language services Geographic isolation Trauma from having experienced detention/deportation Secondary trauma from seeing/knowing someone in family/community that experienced detention/deportation People who don t have a history of anxiety and depression are coming forward with symptoms they ve never had before. And people who had those symptoms already are getting much worse. - Mimi Lind from Venice Family Clinic in Los Angeles

8 Immigration Enforcement Policies We can not think of detentions and deportations as isolated incidents They are a systemic tactic that seperates families and communities

9 Immigration Enforcement Policies Detention, deportations and fear of deportation impact entire families, kids, spouses, and extended family It affects community and their sense of security o This can further alienate people from seeking help from health and public services It impacts individuals mental health and physical health- lack of sleep, lack of nutrition, fear of safety, and lack of care. Detention alienates and criminalizes Queer and Trans Community members through solitary confinement and lack of access to hormones

10 Living with Threat of Deportation Even with programs opened for community doesn t mean they are accessible Transportation might be a challenge, even though license are available to undocumented people it can be risky for those that have prior orders of removal or criminal convictions Language accessibility at clinics or resource centers can be a challenge, being mindful that some indigenous languages are not written only spoken Finding culturally competent providers and service people can be a challenge: shaming if they haven t seeked care but they don't know that they have not received care due to fear.

11 The Cost of Detention Private detention centers profit out of immigrant detention Cost of detatining immigrants cost taxpayers $2 billion Private detention centers receive $125 per detainee per day = 1.5B per year! Source: California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance

12 Immigration Enforcement Policies Makes Immigrant Communities Less Healthy People are afraid to drive, afraid to use parks and exercise outdoors, afraid to use public services like clinics, and afraid to get involved in their communities.

13 Wheel of Wellness Source: Hattie, J.A.; Myers, J.E.; Sweeney, T.J. (2004). "A factor structure of wellness: Theory, assessment, analysis and practice". Journal of Counseling and Development 82:

14 Chronic stress has serious, long term consequences Mental health problems Cardiovascular disease Obesity and other eating disorders Menstrual problems Sexual dysfunction Skin and hair problems Gastrointestinal problems

15 Story: Hector Hector Barajas was born in Mexico and was brought to the U.S. when he was 7 years old. In 1995 he enlisted in the Army Like many soldiers, he struggled with drugs, alcohol, and his mental health. In 2004 he was deported to Mexico after serving his sentence for shooting a gun in his vehicle. Untreated PTSD is often the cause of veterans facing law enforcement issues. This was the case for Hector. However, for veteran like Hector, the end result is often deportation instead of treatment despite his military service.

16 Adelanto Detention Center Osmar: On March 22 nd, Osmar Epifanio Gonzalez-Gadba, was was found hanging in his cell by Adelanto personnel. Vicente: On May 31, 2017, Vicente Caceres Madariaga lost his life at the Adelanto Detention Center from acute coronary syndrome. He was the third person to die at the Adelanto Detention Center in 2017.

17 Case Study: Flint Water Crisis Late January 2016, shortly after Obama administration announced raids targeting Central American refugees Lack of information due to language barriers Lack of ID cards Fear of deportation Lack of health insurance

18 Intergenerational Trauma Historical trauma Studies on survivors of traumatic events have suggested that exposure to stress may indeed have lasting effects on subsequent generations. Ability to cope/ learned coping mechanisms

19 How is CA responding?

20 Sensitive Locations Schools, community centers, libraries, churches are gathering places and resource hubs for those that may not have access or are fearful to receive those resources elsewhere. ICE Memo (2011) Enforcement Actions at or Focused on Sensitive Locations o o Memo considers schools, churches, hospitals, a site of a funeral, wedding, or other religious services, and a site of public demonstrations to sensitive spaces for conducting enforcement This policy is still in place. Limitations to sensitive locations Efforts to declare safe spaces for immigrant communities and ensure privacy of personal information.

21 SB 244: The Privacy Protection Act Author: Senator Ricardo Lara Prohibits state & local agencies from disclosing records containing personal information Ensures information in non-criminal government databases is not shared with federal agencies Current Status Passed out of Senate Passed Assembly Committee on Privacy & Consumer Protections Next hearing: Appropriations

22 SB 54: The California Values Act Current Status Passed out of Senate Passed out of Assembly Judiciary Committee Next hearing: Appropriations Author: Senator Kevin de Leon Disentangles local law enforcement from federal immigration enforcement activities Has California schools, health facilities, libraries, courthouses establish policies that limit assistance with immigration enforcement to the fullest extent possible

23 Betzabel Estudillo Health Policy Manager California Immigrant Policy Center Sacramento Oakland Los Angeles San Diego