Az’s Policies Raise Fear, Hinder Mental Health Access for Immigrants

Renewing Immigration Status: The Struggle and Mental Health Impact

Ileana Salinas, a beneficiary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative, grapples with her impending immigration status renewal. The uncertainty strains her mental health, mirroring the broader impact of fluctuating immigration policies on DACA recipients.

DACA, an Obama-era initiative, provides temporary protection against deportation for undocumented youth who immigrated as children. As of late 2023, over half a million individuals actively hold DACA status, with Arizona hosting approximately 20,750 DACA recipients. However, the Migration Policy Institute estimates even more could be eligible for protection.

Salinas views DACA as offering a taste of the American dream, but it ultimately entails living life two years at a time, given the need for biennial status renewals.

A significant issue for DACA recipients, like Salinas, is healthcare access. Despite being work-authorized, DACA recipients lack eligibility for federal health programs, leading to higher uninsured rates. This deficiency limits access to both general and mental health care, as reported by the nonprofit KFF.

The Impact of Anti-Immigrant Policies on Mental Health

In states like Arizona, anti-immigrant policies compound these challenges. The National Immigration Law Center reports that nearly half of immigrants with mental or behavioral health issues are unable to access requisite services. Policies like Arizona’s SB 1070 foster a culture of fear, further obstructing access to mental health services, and are being replicated nationwide.

The SB 1070, dubbed as the “show me your papers law,” empowered police to arrest without a warrant if they suspected a person was undocumented. While parts of the law were nullified in 2012, it inspired similar anti-immigrant legislation in other states like Texas and Florida.

Immigration advocates argue such laws discourage undocumented individuals from-seeking healthcare, fearing deportation or harm to their citizenship status. Furthermore, undocumented people in Arizona, including DACA recipients, lack Medicaid eligibility except under specific conditions. This exclusion extends to low-cost behavioural health services.

Filling the Gaps: Community Efforts and Advocacy

A few organizations strive to overcome these challenges by providing no-cost or affordable resources. Chicanos Por La Causa, offering some federally funded substance abuse services, and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southern Arizona, providing support groups and case management, are examples of such efforts.

Despite these initiatives, fear and uncertainty continue to inhibit immigrants from seeking care. A 2014 study by Arizona State University and Harvard University found that expectant mothers of Mexican origin were less likely to access preventive health care and public assistance following the passage of SB 1070.

Moreover, the public charge rule, expanded by the Trump administration in 2019 to include healthcare benefits as a public charge, led to a decline in healthcare utilization among immigrants. Although this policy was abandoned in 2021, the fear remained.

Addressing Mental Health and Policy Barriers

Salinas, alongside community-based nonprofit Aliento, works to foster community organization and augment mental health care for undocumented immigrants. Aliento’s outreach program, Cultiva, offers informal arts and healing workshops aimed at breaking down cultural stigma surrounding mental health.

Salinas also advocates for policy changes that indirectly affect the collective mental health of her community. For instance, she campaigned for the passage of Proposition 308 in 2022, which reinstated in-state tuition for certain groups of undocumented students.