Marginalised health communities: Understanding communities of ‘people without papers’ as silent networks of survival

Abstract

ABSTRACT An estimated 11.3 million undocumented immigrants reside in the United States, with a majority of this population having limited access to the U.S. healthcare system. This article draws upon in-depth interviews with 25 undocumented immigrants currently living in South Florida to examine how they survive and maintain their health given they are disenfranchised from the U.S. healthcare system. Using a culture-centred approach, I invited ‘people without papers’ to share stories about how their marginalised social status and cultural backgrounds influence the everyday ways they navigate the healthcare system and make health decisions. Participants’ stories focused on four main themes: finding accessible healthcare spaces through the ‘silent network’ (local undocumented immigrants); making healthcare comfortable through cultural solidarity; and supporting emotional/mental health through the ‘silent network’.