Abstract
Thousands of Mexican and Central American migrants converge at the Mexico-United States border. Undocumented migrants in transit
to the United States are vulnerable due to their lack of access to health care and legal assistance. This study attempts to
provide evidence on the violent-related consequences that migration has on migrants. A mixed-method study was conducted between
April 2006-May 2007 in shelters in Baja California, Mexicali and Tijuana, Mexico. 22 in depth interviews were performed and
fifteen hundred and twelve migrants responded a questionnaire. Results from both in-depth interviews and the analysis of the
quantitative data shows the different types of violence experiences by migrants which include threats, verbal abuse, and arbitrary
detention based on ethnicity, as well as assaults, beatings and sexual violence. It is crucial to stress the importance and
the need to evidence the condition in which migrants’ transit to the US and to effectively respond to the violence they experience.
to the United States are vulnerable due to their lack of access to health care and legal assistance. This study attempts to
provide evidence on the violent-related consequences that migration has on migrants. A mixed-method study was conducted between
April 2006-May 2007 in shelters in Baja California, Mexicali and Tijuana, Mexico. 22 in depth interviews were performed and
fifteen hundred and twelve migrants responded a questionnaire. Results from both in-depth interviews and the analysis of the
quantitative data shows the different types of violence experiences by migrants which include threats, verbal abuse, and arbitrary
detention based on ethnicity, as well as assaults, beatings and sexual violence. It is crucial to stress the importance and
the need to evidence the condition in which migrants’ transit to the US and to effectively respond to the violence they experience.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-011-9489-y
- Authors
- César Infante, Center for Health Systems Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
- Alvaro J. Idrovo, Center for Health Systems Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
- Mario S. Sánchez-Domínguez, Center for Health Systems Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
- Stéphane Vinhas, Medecines du Monde, Paris, France
- Tonatiuh González-Vázquez, Center for Health Systems Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912