Changing Immigration in the United States: Will this have an Impact on Hispanic Health?

Last week, my focus was the potential health problems Californian children are facing during this climate of astronomical state budget cuts. Currently, the government’s role in the lives of Hispanics is increasing, especially during this time when transition is imminent. This week, I continue my exploration of the blogosphere in search of innovative and informative blogs that address topics of interest that are important to the Latin American/Hispanic communities. My examination has led me to two works that tackle the topic of immigration in the United States and some of the repercussions with which it is associated. The first post, titled “Central American Migrants Reportedly Facing Increased Dangers,” comes from Deborah Bonello, a writer for the Los Angeles Times blog titled La Plaza. In it, Bonello speaks about the harsh journeys illegal travelers face when migrating from Central America through Mexico to their final destination in the United States. Published April 10, 2008, the author makes a reference to Special Order 40, a police mandate implemented in the 1980’s to prevent LAPD officers from obtaining the immigration status of detained suspects. It was passed in hopes of encouraging illegal residents to report crimes without fear of being punished. However, critics of the mandate believe that it prevents criminals, such as gang members, from receiving quick deportation. The second post titled, "Health Care for Hispanics Stays Steady," comes from Aileen Streng, writer for the Potomac News on InsideNoVa.com. On March 21, 2008, Streng states that the health clinics of Prince William County, Virginia have not seen a decline in the amount of patients, most of whom are typically Hispanic, even during recent crackdown against illegitimate residency in the state. My responses to both author’s posts can be viewed below as well as on each respective blog.

My Response to:
“Central American Migrants Reportedly Facing Increased Dangers”

Deborah Bonello,

First off, I would like to thank you for your informative and timely post. It is wonderful to read a blog that stresses the importance of issues concerning the Hispanic and Latin American communities. The fact that you decided to begin your piece with a mention of Special Order 40, really ties in this story with something that is significant to many Californians. Based on other posts that I have read on La Plaza, I have realized that many Los Angeles residents reserve strong sentiments regarding the issue of immigration. Relating this story about Central American immigrants to the buzz surrounding the LAPD, in my opinion, strengthens the appeal of your work. I appreciated the poignant observations you make about the tragic deaths that are taking place due to harsh conditions Central American migrants face in Mexico (pictured below to the right). Although your post served as an informative commentary, it could have been even more interesting to read your perspective on the case at hand. The sheer irony that undocumented Mexicans expect better treatment than the illegal travelers who pass through their own country is enough to spark a colorful debate. Also, since Special Order 40 deals directly with the possibility of deportation from the United States, do you believe is it likely to cause a chain reaction in minimizing relocation to other countries? You make reference to Olga R. Rodriguez who wrote, “Despite efforts to secure its own southern border, Mexico doesn’t try to stop its own citizens from crossing north”. I was able to locate and read her expose on newsvine.com. The parallels Rodriguez draws between the situations that Mexican and American citizens are facing, in terms of undocumented refugees, shines a light on the hypocrisy of the Mexican government. On one hand, the horror stories that accompany these travelers, which are enough to inspire nightmares, have not seemed to deter the amount of people that risk their lives in hopes of a better one. On the other hand, according to your piece, it seems that these stricter laws in Mexico are causing a decrease in migration to the country. Is this indicative of what the American government will have to resort to in order to see a significant change? These are just a few questions you may consider addressing in future posts.

My Response to:
“Health Care for Hispanics Stays Steady”

Aileen Streng,

I would like to start off by thanking you for writing about such an important topic, not only for Hispanics but for Americans in general. The increased attention surrounding relocation in the United States has definitely had a dramatic impact in this country, especially during the presidential elections. I was surprised to read that the health clinics in Prince William County are not experiencing a decline in the amount of patients they are seeing (pictured above to the left), particularly because of the current interest concerning Special Order 40 in Los Angeles. Recently, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has been trying to crackdown on gang violence in the city. Many critics believe that eliminating Special Order 40 will strikingly reduce the possibility of criminals unlawfully residing in California . It seems that many illegitimate residents are nervous about drawing any kind of attention to themselves, which is significantly evident when they refuse to seek medical attention. Hispanics often steer clear of the doctor’s office for chronic illnesses such as hypertension and elevated blood glucose, but with this increase of risks associated with the act of immigration, avoiding the doctor can be even more dangerous than ever. It is reasonable to predict that there will be changes in the resettlement laws in this country with the inauguration of a new leader. Do you believe these changes will make hospitals and clinics safe havens for those who are essentially being banished? Or will doctors be forced to interrogate their patients before medical attention is provided? It is interesting when you mention, "the health district and Potomac Hospital are seeing a decline in patients [in] their prenatal clinics", while the overall amount of patients being seen has remained relatively stable. Although health care officials do not offer an explanation for this decline, do you believe that this could be attributed to the increased enforcement working against illegal immigrants? Whatever the outcomes may be, it is important to realize that major changes are likely to take place in the near future. The real task is to figure out exactly how these changes will affect Americans on a personal level, whether for ourselves or within our families.

"Hasta La Vista, Baby": California Public School Budget Cuts May Influence Children's Health

Many studies have been conducted exploring the benefits of exercise on health. It comes to no surprise that physical activity can prevent chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. If the advantages of exercise and a healthy diet are common knowledge, should not the government be more involved in promoting this type of lifestyle? For some children it is important to learn positive nutritional habits in school, especially when bad tendencies have been developed at home. Unfortunately, due to astronomical budget cuts for public education in California, a good number of young people’s health is suffering. In the long run, they grow up to be adults with fitness problems that teach their poor decisions to future generations. Although this is a topic that is of concern to all families with children in public schools, it can be especially important for minority families who may not be well educated about healthy alternatives.

Recently, Newsweek published a story titled “Six Worst Kid Health Habits.” In the article, Daniel Stone lists six unhealthy choices parents essentially allow their children to develop at home. The author makes reference to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), which is a self-proclaimed research-led think tank that reports at least 155 million school-age adolescents worldwide are overweight or obese. Among other regions, the IOTF draws attention to the dramatic increase in obesity among youth in England. Additionally, the article highlights the Medical College of Georgia (MCG), which conducted research in 2007 that linked exercise among kids with an increase in school performance. In a study titled “Exercise Improves Thinking, Reduces Diabetes Risk in Overweight Children,” Dr. Catherine Davis discusses the benefits she found when exposing 200 overweight, inactive adolescents to physical activity. Researchers state, "Aerobic exercise training showed dose-response benefits on executive function (decision-making) and possibly math achievement, in overweight children." Dr. Davis goes on to say that she hopes results like these convince policy makers to require rigorous activity to be a part of every student’s daily routine.

Not only did the MCG study acknowledge a link between exercise and improved thinking, they also found a decrease in insulin resistance, a precursor for diabetes, among subjects who were assigned to the 20 or 40 minute/day exercise condition. The take-away message from all of this is that physical education programs in schools need to be fast paced and consistent enough in order for students to achieve the multifaceted benefits of exercise within the school day. According to the aforementioned article in Newsweek, parents are not doing a good job of instilling healthy habits at home, which makes it important for children to exercise during school hours. A few of the six bad habits parents teach their sons and daughters include eating in front of the television, watching too much television and eating prepackaged foods. Because of this reality, school is considered to be a great place to address poor eating habits as well as insufficient amounts of physical activity and to teach nutritional alternatives. This can prove to be more helpful for Hispanic families who may lack the proper education to promote healthy lifestyles. What happens when education budget cuts remove programs dedicated to providing the physical activity so many students need?

Nationwide, most states are trying to make ends meet by making budget cuts wherever possible. In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (pictured to the left) has already implemented a $400 million reduction for public school and community college education throughout the state. Additionally, a $4.8 billion cut for K-12 education was proposed earlier this year to the shock of many Californians. With such a large decrease, it is foreseeable that almost every program will be affected, including nutrition and physical education. In late February, KQED public radio host Rachael Myrow spoke with Jill Wynns, member of the San Francisco board of education, about the local government’s work to preserve S.L.A.M. programs (Sports, Libraries, Arts and Music). Although some school districts may have established private funding streams in order to keep their sports and music programs alive, this is not the case for every school in California. School districts, preparing for 2008-2009’s budgets, have already been forced to consider staff cuts. The New York Times states that, "the Alameda school district in Northern California, trustees voted to reduce the $83.7 million budget by cutting $200,000 to the sports programs, eliminating music programs for all children below fourth grade and increasing class sizes in ninth grade to an average of 29 students, up from 20." When fears of a recession circulate, it is hard to believe that the remaining enrichment programs, such as sports and health education, will be effective when hundreds of teachers are being laid off.

Overall, it is the students that suffer the long lasting effects of these budget cuts, whether it is education or health-wise. While parents blame the school system for cutting sports programs and health education and the government blames parents for neglecting their children’s eating habits, youth continue to battle their weight and the dangerous effects of being unhealthy. Time and time again, the research supports the idea that exercise and a well balanced diet is crucial in avoiding many of the nation's most prevalent diseases. For some families, the budget deficit will encourage better decisions to be implemented at home, but for those who are unfamiliar with these choices, including many minorities, physical education cuts will prove to be detrimental to young people's current and future health.