As on reproductive justice, Unitarian Universalists (UUs) are uniquely positioned to advocate for justice for immigrants. Some of the most harmful effects of the broken U.S. immigration system have been borne by women and parents who are unable to have full control over their sexual and reproductive lives because of their immigration status, race, financial capabilities, or gender identity.
For example, people who lack proper documentation have extremely limited access to employment and health insurance, keeping them from having safe pregnancies or healthy families. For fear of being reported, undocumented women are hesitant to access services from law-enforcement or medical centers when they are abused or raped, which deepens cycles of violence and poverty.
Like the recently-proposed immigration reform bill in the U.S. Senate, many federal and state policies restrict access to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act including contraceptives and other preventative women’s health services for undocumented migrants and non-citizens. Immediate and effective advocacy is necessary now to provide these basic human rights to immigrants. (author abstract)