The Immigrant’s Reality: Sanctuary Cities and Access to Healthcare
Start Date
April 2025
Location
3rd floor - Library
Abstract
Sanctuary cities in the United States are municipalities that adopt local immigration policies designed to limit cooperation with federal authorities in enforcing immigration laws. These policies aim to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation, providing them access to essential services like healthcare, education and legal assistance without the fear of legal consequences. This study explores how these policies impact access to healthcare and the quality of life for immigrant populations.
The research highlights significant barriers to healthcare access for immigrants, including fear of deportation, financial constraints, and language difficulties and immigration status. In addition, challenges like "legal violence" and "medical legal violence" should also be taken into account when examining necessary public benefits. These concepts describe how restrictive immigration policies indirectly harm immigrants by denying them access to healthcare and other essential services.
Sanctuary cities play a critical role in protecting immigrant communities by offering refuge from discriminatory federal policies. Through the analysis of policies, this research aims to understand if these cities foster greater equity and access to care for immigrants. Although the measurement of success is complex, sanctuary cities represent a significant step towards social justice and healthcare equity, demonstrating the potential for local policies to challenge exclusionary practices and improve the well-being of marginalized populations.
The Immigrant’s Reality: Sanctuary Cities and Access to Healthcare
3rd floor - Library
Sanctuary cities in the United States are municipalities that adopt local immigration policies designed to limit cooperation with federal authorities in enforcing immigration laws. These policies aim to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation, providing them access to essential services like healthcare, education and legal assistance without the fear of legal consequences. This study explores how these policies impact access to healthcare and the quality of life for immigrant populations.
The research highlights significant barriers to healthcare access for immigrants, including fear of deportation, financial constraints, and language difficulties and immigration status. In addition, challenges like "legal violence" and "medical legal violence" should also be taken into account when examining necessary public benefits. These concepts describe how restrictive immigration policies indirectly harm immigrants by denying them access to healthcare and other essential services.
Sanctuary cities play a critical role in protecting immigrant communities by offering refuge from discriminatory federal policies. Through the analysis of policies, this research aims to understand if these cities foster greater equity and access to care for immigrants. Although the measurement of success is complex, sanctuary cities represent a significant step towards social justice and healthcare equity, demonstrating the potential for local policies to challenge exclusionary practices and improve the well-being of marginalized populations.
