title: The impact and implications of undocumented immigration on individual and collective health in the United States.
abstract: A nation of immigrants, the United States currently has more foreign-born residents than any other country; approximately 28% of these foreign-born residents are undocumented immigrants--individuals who either entered or are currently residing in the country without valid immigration or residency documents. The complex and constantly changing social, political, and economic context of undocumented migration has profound effects on individuals, families, and communities. The lack of demographic and epidemiologic data on undocumented immigrants is a major public health challenge. In this article, we identify multiple dimensions of vulnerability among undocumented persons; examine how undocumentedness impacts health and health care access and utilization; and consider the professional, practice, and policy issues and implications for nurses.
authors: College of Nursing and Women's and Gender Studies, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. Electronic address: deanne.messias@sc.edu.
authors: DeAnne K
authors: DK
authors: Hilfinger Messias
authors: College of Nursing and Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
authors: Marylyn Morris
authors: MM
authors: McEwen
authors: College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.
authors: Lauren
authors: L
authors: Clark
mesh_terms: D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States
keywords: Immigrant health; Immigration; Immigration policy; Undocumented immigrants; Undocumentedness