The Health of Newcomers: Immigration, Health Policy, and the Case for Global Solidarity

Abstract

Immigration and health are two of the most contentious issues facing policy makers today. Laws and policies that relate to both issues — to the health of newcomers — often reflect misimpressions about immigrants, their health, their impact on health care systems, and the ethical duties owed to them. Although immigrants are typically younger and healthier than native-born residents, and many newcomers play a vital role in providing care in their new lands, many nations are reluctant to extend basic health care to immigrants. Likewise, many nations turn against immigrants when epidemics strike, falsely believing that native populations can be kept well by keeping immigrants out. The book explores laws and policies pertaining to the intersections of health and migration, both in the U.S. and in other developed countries, and argues that because health is a global public good and people benefit from the health of neighbor and stranger alike, it is in everyone’s interest to ensure the health of all. Reviewing issues in the U.S. and globally as diverse as health-related immigration restrictions, medical repatriation, epidemic controls, access to health, the right to health, the medical brain drain, organ tourism, and global climate change, the book shows why solidarity between natives and newcomers is ethically required and in the service of health for all.

Keywords: immigration, health care, public health