Editorial

Public Health Consequences of State Immigration Laws

Authors: Vivianne R. Aponte-Rivera, MD, Boadie W. Dunlop, MD

Abstract

Georgia's House Bill 87 (HB 87), called the "Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011" took effect on July 1, 2011. This law was modeled after Arizona's controversial immigration law Senate Bill 1070 (SB 1070). Thirty-six other states are considering similar bills.1 While there is ongoing debate about the constitutionality of the Arizona and Georgia laws, there has been little consideration of the potentially detrimental effects the laws would have on the overall health of the public and of immigrants in particular.

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References

1. Khan H. Immigration wars: more states looking at Arizona-style laws. ABC News Web site. March 4, 2011. Available at: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/immigration-wars-texas-georgia-oklahoma-arizona-style-laws/story?id=13050716. Accessed May 16, 2011.
 
2. State of Georgia House Bill 87. Georgia General Assembly Web site. Available at: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116631.pdf. Accessed May 15, 2011.
 
3. BBVA Research. Migration Outlook Mexico. October 25, 2010. Available at: http://www.bbvaresearch.com/KETD/fbin/mult/101025_PresentationsMexico_66_eng_tcm348-234645.pdf?ts=1652011. Accessed May 15, 2011.
 
4. Brown R. Georgia gives police added power to seek out illegal immigrants. May 13, 2011. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/14/us/14georgia.html. Accessed May 16, 2011.