Undocumented Immigrants and The American Safety Net

Professor Dayna Bowen MatthewUniversity of Colorado Law School

October 17, 2012

Words Intended to Inspire

“Our history tells us that immigration in the American

story has always been controversial – associated always

with both benefits and costs . . . When these death-

bringing European immigrants became Americans by

birth, their own response to further immigration was

mixed.” Otis L. Graham, “The Unfinished Reform”

Words Intended to Inspire

“Immigrants’ search for a better life is one of the most basic

desires of human beings. Many undocumented workers have

walked mile after mile, through the heat of the day and the

cold of night. Some have risked their lives in dangerous

desert border crossings, or entrusted their lives to the brutal

. . . . Fearful, often abused, and exploited.“President George W. Bush (January 2004)

12 Million

Parents/Providers for 6 million

Citizen Children

25%-40% Lost Legal Status

1 – 1.5 Million Temporary Protective

Status

Complex Composition of Undocumented

Population

Common Group Identity Model

Cognitive social psychology theory that offers

new tools for realigning falsely competing

interests that underlie current health care and

immigration law.

Common Group Identity Model

Three Principles To Direct Health Law and Policy Reform

– Principle #1 - Social Categorization is fundamental to human functioning and perception

– Principle #2 - Identify the Costs of Social Categorization as pertaining to Undocumented Immigrants

Common Group Identity Model

Third Principle To Direct Health Law and Policy Reform– Principle #3 – RECATEGORIZATION

• Negative attitudes and conduct towards out-group members can be modified

• Re-organize in-group membership to reflect common identity• Re-Frame messaging to create “superordinate groups” comprised of

wage-earners and their advocates for improved working conditions, reasonable hand retirement benefits, and health policy that emphasizes public health

EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS

Women’s Rights AdvocatesImmigration Rights Advocates