Take a Stand Commentary

How Can Medical Anthropologists Contribute to Contemporary Conversations on “Illegal” Im/migration and Health

Bibliographic Data

ID7199453
AuthorsWillen (0000-0002-0827-0510, University of Connecticut), Sarah S Willen, Jessica Mulligan (0000-0001-8165-7722, Providence College), H Castaneda (0000-0001-5892-3279, University of South Florida)
Year2011
Volume25
Issue3
Pages331-356
Publication date2011-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMedical Anthropology Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0745-5194 • E-ISSN: 1548-1387
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1548-1387.2011.01164.x
PMID22007561
OpenAlexW2137944923
LanguageEN
Citations received29
References cited74

Of the estimated 214 million people who have migrated from poorer to richer countries in search of a better life, between 20 and 30 million have migrated on an unauthorized, or “illegal,” basis. All have health needs, or will in the future, yet most are denied health care available to citizens and authorized residents. To many, unauthorized im/migrants’ exclusion intuitively “makes sense.” As scholars of health, social justice, and human rights, we find this logic deeply flawed and are committed to advancing a constructive program of engaged critique. In this commentary, we call on medical anthropologists to claim an active role in reframing scholarly and public debate about this pressing global health issue. We outline four key theoretical issues and five action steps that will help us sharpen our research agenda and translate ourselves for colleagues in partner disciplines and for broader audiences engaged in policymaking, politics, public health, and clinical practice . [unauthorized im/migration, “illegality,” social determinants of health, “deservingness,” public anthropology

Criminology · Sociology · Global Security and Public Health · Health and Conflict Studies · Migration, Health and Trauma