Immigration Legal Services as a Structural HIV Intervention for Latinx Sexual and Gender Minorities

Thespina J. Yamanis; Maria Cecilia Zea; Ana Karen Ramé Montiel; Suyanna L. Barker; Manuel J. Díaz-Ramirez; Kathleen R. Page; Omar Martinez; Jayesh Rathod

doi:10.1007/s10903-018-0838-y

Immigration Legal Services as a Structural HIV Intervention for Latinx Sexual and Gender Minorities

Thespina J. Yamanis, Maria Cecilia Zea, Ana Karen Ramé Montiel, Suyanna L. Barker, Manuel J. Díaz-Ramirez, Kathleen R. Page, Omar Martinez, Jayesh Rathod

School of Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lack of legal immigration status is associated with poor HIV-related outcomes for immigrant Latinx sexual and gender minorities (LSGM). LSGM often meet eligibility criteria for legal immigration relief. A Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) may thus be strategic to improve their health. We know little about the challenges LSGM face during the immigration legal process. We conducted in-depth interviews with six key informants and sixteen LSGM who recently applied for immigration legal relief. We coded and analyzed the data for emergent themes. Challenges to instituting an MLP for LSGM included lack of specialized training on working with SGM for immigration attorneys, and for clients: knowledge about legal deadlines, lack of housing and family support, and re-traumatizing experiences. Clients’ outcomes were positive when attorneys and mental health providers collaborated. For LSGM, the benefits of immigration relief included reduced HIV risk. An MLP that addresses the surmountable challenges could improve HIV-related outcomes among LSGM.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1365-1372
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume	21
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0838-y
State	Published - Dec 1 2019

Keywords

HIV
LGBT
Legal immigration status
MSM
Medical legal
Partnership
Structural intervention
Transgender
Undocumented

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Epidemiology
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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10.1007/s10903-018-0838-y

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title = "Immigration Legal Services as a Structural HIV Intervention for Latinx Sexual and Gender Minorities",

abstract = "Lack of legal immigration status is associated with poor HIV-related outcomes for immigrant Latinx sexual and gender minorities (LSGM). LSGM often meet eligibility criteria for legal immigration relief. A Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) may thus be strategic to improve their health. We know little about the challenges LSGM face during the immigration legal process. We conducted in-depth interviews with six key informants and sixteen LSGM who recently applied for immigration legal relief. We coded and analyzed the data for emergent themes. Challenges to instituting an MLP for LSGM included lack of specialized training on working with SGM for immigration attorneys, and for clients: knowledge about legal deadlines, lack of housing and family support, and re-traumatizing experiences. Clients{\textquoteright} outcomes were positive when attorneys and mental health providers collaborated. For LSGM, the benefits of immigration relief included reduced HIV risk. An MLP that addresses the surmountable challenges could improve HIV-related outcomes among LSGM.",

keywords = "HIV, LGBT, Legal immigration status, MSM, Medical legal, Partnership, Structural intervention, Transgender, Undocumented",

author = "Yamanis, {Thespina J.} and Zea, {Maria Cecilia} and {Ram{\'e} Montiel}, {Ana Karen} and Barker, {Suyanna L.} and D{\'i}az-Ramirez, {Manuel J.} and Page, {Kathleen R.} and Omar Martinez and Jayesh Rathod",

note = "Funding Information: This research was made possible by a CFAR Adelante award funded by the National Institutes of Health-funded Centers for AIDS Research (P30AI050409 and P30AI117970) and the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The project was also supported by the District of Columbia Center for AIDS Research, an NIH funded program (AI117970), and a Dean{\textquoteright}s Summer Research Award from American University{\textquoteright}s School of International Service. We thank Sarah Palazzolo for research support and the UCLA Emerging Immigration Scholars Conference for feedback during the beginning stage of the project. We are tremendously grateful to our resilient study participants who generously gave their time and shared their moving stories. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.",

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AU - Yamanis, Thespina J.

AU - Zea, Maria Cecilia

AU - Ramé Montiel, Ana Karen

AU - Barker, Suyanna L.

AU - Díaz-Ramirez, Manuel J.

AU - Page, Kathleen R.

AU - Martinez, Omar

AU - Rathod, Jayesh

N1 - Funding Information: This research was made possible by a CFAR Adelante award funded by the National Institutes of Health-funded Centers for AIDS Research (P30AI050409 and P30AI117970) and the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The project was also supported by the District of Columbia Center for AIDS Research, an NIH funded program (AI117970), and a Dean’s Summer Research Award from American University’s School of International Service. We thank Sarah Palazzolo for research support and the UCLA Emerging Immigration Scholars Conference for feedback during the beginning stage of the project. We are tremendously grateful to our resilient study participants who generously gave their time and shared their moving stories. Publisher Copyright: © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

PY - 2019/12/1

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N2 - Lack of legal immigration status is associated with poor HIV-related outcomes for immigrant Latinx sexual and gender minorities (LSGM). LSGM often meet eligibility criteria for legal immigration relief. A Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) may thus be strategic to improve their health. We know little about the challenges LSGM face during the immigration legal process. We conducted in-depth interviews with six key informants and sixteen LSGM who recently applied for immigration legal relief. We coded and analyzed the data for emergent themes. Challenges to instituting an MLP for LSGM included lack of specialized training on working with SGM for immigration attorneys, and for clients: knowledge about legal deadlines, lack of housing and family support, and re-traumatizing experiences. Clients’ outcomes were positive when attorneys and mental health providers collaborated. For LSGM, the benefits of immigration relief included reduced HIV risk. An MLP that addresses the surmountable challenges could improve HIV-related outcomes among LSGM.

AB - Lack of legal immigration status is associated with poor HIV-related outcomes for immigrant Latinx sexual and gender minorities (LSGM). LSGM often meet eligibility criteria for legal immigration relief. A Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) may thus be strategic to improve their health. We know little about the challenges LSGM face during the immigration legal process. We conducted in-depth interviews with six key informants and sixteen LSGM who recently applied for immigration legal relief. We coded and analyzed the data for emergent themes. Challenges to instituting an MLP for LSGM included lack of specialized training on working with SGM for immigration attorneys, and for clients: knowledge about legal deadlines, lack of housing and family support, and re-traumatizing experiences. Clients’ outcomes were positive when attorneys and mental health providers collaborated. For LSGM, the benefits of immigration relief included reduced HIV risk. An MLP that addresses the surmountable challenges could improve HIV-related outcomes among LSGM.

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KW - MSM

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KW - Partnership

KW - Structural intervention

KW - Transgender

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Immigration Legal Services as a Structural HIV Intervention for Latinx Sexual and Gender Minorities

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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