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.

Increasing Suicide Attempts among Hispanic Teen Girls: Can the Next President Help?

Puberty is a time of transition for adolescents that can bring about feelings of anxiety, insecurity and even depression. While the perils of growing up are often times similar for many teens, occasionally these seemingly minor problems can spin out of control. Most psychologists would encourage parent/teen communication in order to ease times of transition. What happens if parents do not believe in the importance of mental health for their teens? Because the field of psychology and mental health, in comparison to other medical practices, is relatively young in its development, many people are hesitant to trust its beneficial qualities when dealing with anxiety and depression. Additionally, most of the influential theories in psychology are not cross-culturally applicable. For immigrant teens, like Jocelyn Garay (left) and Ana Martinez (right), both major and minor changes associated with puberty were not always easily discussed with relatives because other problems took precedence for their families. When feelings of anxiety and depression go unresolved, severe repercussions come to the surface.

On January 22, 2008, the Washington Post published a story titled "Crying Out for Help: Suicide Attempts Reveal Strains on Young Latinas." The article states that among the general population, Hispanic/Latin American females are more likely than White or Black teenage girls to attempt suicide. In a study conducted in 1999 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where teen risk behavior was surveyed, researchers found that 23.3% of Hispanic teen girls reported having made plans to commit suicide. This was significantly higher than both White (15.5%) and Black teen girls (13.7%). Luis Zayas, a psychologist and professor at Washington University in Saint Louis, who is currently conducting a study on this subject matter, offers some insights as to why this is becoming typical behavior among this specific group of girls. Zayas believes these attempts of suicide are merely a cry for help and not evidentiary of a will to die. Some explanations as to why these girls attempt to take their lives include the absence of strong familial ties, feelings of insecurity among peers, and confusion between what is expected of them in American culture versus what their families expect. Zayas also claims that crossing the border for immigrant teens can be a major source of anxiety and stress. He goes on to say, "Until we understand the cultural conflict, we will not be able to prevent this." What makes problems worse is that Hispanics rarely seek out mental health professionals. This is due to the fact that most Hispanic families do not believe in psychology and also promote keeping problems within the family. The Washington Post decided to present this story as a major crisis for the Hispanic teen population, but the question is, can the results of these studies be interpreted as progress rather than a widespread epidemic?

The idea that young Hispanics are coming forward with reports of having made plans to end their lives and are participating in ongoing psychological research is definitely a step forward. These participants are raising awareness of the importance of mental health services. This has important implications for future generations who will eventually know the severity of depression and suicidal tendencies among their youth. It is important to understand that these findings can serve as a stepping-stone for major change within the community. A hopeful message can be extracted from the progress these teens are making, in terms of their willingness to discuss their emotions with mental health professionals. What better time to bring up change within the Hispanic and Latin American community than during one of the biggest times of transition; the 2008 presidential election?

It seems that the upcoming election will have a major impact on many hot topics over the next few years. With Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain (pictured to the right) promoting major immigration reform, it is inevitable that the changes will affect many immigrants in the United States. Some of the changes mentioned by all three leading candidates include stronger border security as well as stricter laws against employers hiring undocumented workers. One of Obama's solutions includes allowing immigrants in good standing to pay a fine, learn English and have the opportunity to come to this country legally. Although each candidate has different opinions about how to solve the problem, the importance of keeping families together has been addressed at least by both democratic candidates. Ineffective laws, in the past, have separated parents and children, which only adds to the stress of immigrant teens. The mere fact that these issues are being addressed by the future leader of the nation seems to implicate that progress is being made.

The Latin American/Hispanic population in the United States is ever growing, which has never been more evident than during this time of presidential campaigning. With the information being brought to light by current research, it becomes clear that those who were once considered a minority in this country are impacting the field of psychology as well as politics in a major way. It is important to understand cultural differences when addressing topics such as health in the United States. Although studies such as Professor Louis Zayas' on suicidal teens can seem daunting and hopeless, it should be viewed as a beacon of hope. Not only hope that health care professionals are beginning to focus on minority mental health but also that presidential change has the power to reduce some of the turmoil foreigners currently deal with when immigrating to the United States.