The Undocumented Americans

Chapter 3 largely ruminates on healthcare. The author is forthcoming about her own mental health diagnoses: “borderline personality disorder, major depression, anxiety, and OCD” (61). She discusses the psychological impact of immigration and living in the United States as an undocumented person. She says, “The U.S. government’s crimes against immigrants are beyond the pale and the whole world knows” (60). Living as a regular victim of those crimes creates severe risks for mental illness.

The chapter takes place in Miami, Florida. One of the author’s early research outings was to a pharmacy that provides prescription drugs to immigrants in need and without a prescription, which is illegal. Undocumented immigrants, however, are not eligible to purchase healthcare insurance even if they can afford it. Instead they use various measures to navigate the system to get the care they need. They rely on pharmacies like the one the author visits; share medication; or obtain drugs through someone who has healthcare coverage and can fake certain conditions, get a prescription, and pass along the medication. They see doctors who are willing to practice illegally via house calls. They do home treatments that the author calls “folk medicine” with accessible resources from stores (67). For preventive care, some are able to see doctors at community health centers (65-67).