Fortifying the Boundaries of Deservingness: Israeli Government Steps up Policies of Exclusion towards Irregular Migrants – Nora Gottlieb

Nora Gottlieb
 Ben Gurion University of the Negev

On January 11, 2012, the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) passed an amended ‘Infiltrator Law,’ whose declared purpose is to deter irregular migrants and asylum seekers from entering the country. The law enables draconian measures, including three-year imprisonment without trial for entering the country illegally. In its original version, the law would have made assistance to irregular migrants punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment, but that particular paragraph was removed at the last minute.

Ironically, the logic of exclusion and securitization that underlies such laws has its roots in Israel’s self-concept as the homeland that guarantees the Jewish people protection and safety from persecution. The Infiltrator Law is part of a recent wave of policy decisions that solidify the denial of social and health rights to various (non-Jewish) migrant populations. Below I critically evaluate some of these recent policy developments in terms of their implications for the health rights of irregular migrants and asylum seekers in Israel.

Independence Garden, © Natan Dvir

Potential Health Outcomes of Being Undocumented and Homeless – Maggie Sullivan

Maggie Sullivan

Homeless persons who are also unauthorized immigrants face a reality of extreme marginalization which puts them at significant physical and mental health risk. As a family nurse practitioner working in shelter-based clinics, I care for many of these patients regularly. And though resiliency is certainly not uncommon, the burden of disease for those who are both homeless and unauthorized is high.

Not having a home and being undocumented confers considerable health risks. It is known that homelessness, in and of itself, confers significant risk of illness and premature death[i]. The majority of homeless individuals in the United States are U.S. citizens, and many of our foreign-born homeless patients are authorized immigrants. The minority who are both homeless and unauthorized immigrants face unique challenges and risks to their health. It is an aspect of health disparity not often addressed.