Undocumented Immigration and Southern Arizona's Healthcare System: A Case Study on the Impact of Undocumented Immigration on the U.S. Health Services System and Related Policy Implications

Abstract

Undocumented immigration is a serious policy issue directly affecting states along the US-Mexico border, and as healthcare costs increase, health systems in border communities are strained. The issues surrounding undocumented immigration and healthcare include the financial costs incurred by the healthcare providers, consequences specific to Arizona, medical implications for the population, and questions regarding the potential costs and benefits of including undocumented immigrants in a system of healthcare coverage. After reviewing the available literature, interviews were conducted with healthcare providers throughout Southern Arizona, which exposed a different view of the financial and human costs borne by both the providers and the population. This new perspective requires a holistic policy approach to balance the competing needs of financial sustainability for providers and fair access to care for those unable to afford medical services. Further research is necessary to expand upon the results of the interviews with healthcare providers, but it is clear that the issue must be reframed to fully capture the costs and benefits involved as undocumented immigrants access the US healthcare system.