1243 | 413 | Social inequalities for undocumented migrants during COVID-19: what solidarity cities did to ensure access to healthcare. The case of Barcelona, Spain and Los Angeles, United States. | Line Crettex (Ph.D.)
We assume that cities are key sites for understanding demographic and migration challenges such as migrant integration and refugee protection around the world. Even if nation states claim authority over immigration issues, the cities tend to be the places where migrants and refugees live and participate in economic and social life. In fact, many cities protect and include undocumented migrants (Bauder, 2017). In the US, these cities are called “sanctuary cities” and in Europe, they have labels such as cities of refuge. A common urban approach describes this kind of solidarity cities as urban initiatives, policies and practices towards protecting and accommodating undocumented migrants and refugees. Access to healthcare is one of the policies responsive implemented by these local proactive governments. In Spain a national law has been adopted in 2018 that expanded healthcare access to all residents, including undocumented migrants (Hsia and Gil-González, 2021); meanwhile in California, different health insurances give access to medical care for undocumented migrants (Arredondo, 2022). However, every special access to healthcare is often held back by specific administrative and contextual conditions. Solidarity cities of both geographical areas work on overcoming these barriers. For example, Barcelona helps with “empadronamiento” for undocumented migrants in homelessness situation and Los Angeles assures that healthcare services are safe spaces from hunting by national immigration authorities. Despite of all these local inclusive measures, the COVID-19 pandemic created news challenges to the question of access to healthcare. Local health officials took great pains to reassure undocumented residents that they would not face repercussions for seeking medical attention or access to vaccines. This session provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and solutions given by local authorities toward social inequalities during Covid-19 for undocumented migrants_x000D_
Line Crettex (Ph.D.)
“- (Graduated recently from El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Tijuana, Mexico)”
ID Abstract: 413