Immigrant workers: health, law, and public policy.
Immigrant workers are a large segment of the lower echelon of the U.S. labor force, and as many as 3.6 to 6 million of these workers and their families are living in the U.S. illegally. This paper examines who the recent immigrants are: explains why their current situation in the U.S. is an important public health matter; discusses the ethical and policy issues stemming from their health needs and from illegal status; and concludes with a brief look at some implications of the Simpson-Mazzoli Immigration and Reform Act, currently before Congress. The paper suggests that the illegal status of undocumented workers intensifies their health risks; that the immigrants' responsibility for budget short-falls in public services is not as clearcut as frequently assumed; and that legislation aimed at regulating the status of immigrant workers in the U.S. is unlikely to solve many of the central problems.
D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D011640:Public Policy; D012935:Social Justice; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D014481:United States; D035862:Vulnerable Populations