Challenges of undocumented immigrants in Canada and the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic: a review

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-07-2020-0072
• Published date: 25 October 2022
• Date: 25 October 2022
• Pages: 332-340
• Subject Matter: Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Inequalities & diverse/minority groups,Sociology,Race & ethnic studies,Minorities,Multiculturalism,Racial identity,Work,economy & organizations,Labour movements
• Author: Emmanuel Akwasi Marfo,Higinio Fernandez-Sanchez,Bridget Osei Henewaa Annor

Challenges of undocumented immigrants

in Canada and the USA during the

COVID-19 pandemic: a review

Emmanuel Akwasi Marfo, Higinio Fernandez-Sanchez and Bridget Osei Henewaa Annor

Abstract

Purpose –Pandemics pose challenges to all groups of people and all aspects of human lives.

Undocumentedmigrants are likely to face more challengesduring global pandemics. The purpose of this

paper is to explore the possiblechallenges of undocumented immigrants in Canadaand the USA in the

ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach –From existing literature, the authors examined the challenges of

undocumented migrants in Canada and the USA and suggested recommendations to address those

challengesat both policy and national levels.

Findings –The undocumented status of someinternational immigrants makes them vulnerable in their

host nations.They face myriad challenges in their hostcountries, spanning from economic, health,social

isolation and employmentchallenges, and these are further exacerbatedduring pandemics such as the

ongoing COVID-19. The provision of culturally sensitive and safe policies may support this particular

population,especially in times of crisis likethe COVID-19 pandemic.

Originality/value –This paper provides critical insights into the possible intersections that worsen the

vulnerabilityof undocumented migrants in pandemic crises likeCOVID-19. Further, this review serves to

initiate the discourse on policy and interventions for undocumented immigrants during pandemics or

diseaseoutbreaks.

Keywords Undocumented immigrants, COVID-19 pandemic, Canada, USA, Challenges

Paper type General review

Introduction

The USA and Canada implemented economic relief measures due to the COVID-19

pandemic lockdowns. These measures prioritized national citizens, overlooking the millions

of undocumented immigrants in the USA and Canada (Canadian Press Center, 2020;Pew

Research Center, 2020). It is well documented that most migrants in these two countries

have essential jobs (i.e. food and agriculture) that may put them at greater exposure to

COVID-19 (Castillo et al.,2021;Fern

andez-S

anchez et al.,2020; Olayemi et al., 2021).

Socioeconomic, political and legal factors were identified from the existing immigrant

literature as the main impetus driving international migration (Castelli, 2018;Raymer et al.,

2018). The laws and policies that allow entry to immigrants with specific characteristics

mostly guide international migration policymaking (Alfaro-Velcamp and Mclaughlin, 2011;

Koslowski, 2013). For instance, in addition to family and humanitarianism, Canada’s

selective migration policy is based on individual human capital (Picot et al.,2016), whereas

that of the USA uses market-oriented and demand-driven approaches (Papademetriou and

Hooper, 2019). Undocumented migrants’ immigration statuses, coupled with other

intersections of age, gender, economic status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and

educational background, place these migrants at greater vulnerability (Diaz et al.,2017;

Emmanuel Akwasi Marfo

and Higinio Fernandez-

Sanchez are both based at

the Faculty of Nursing,

University of Alberta,

Edmonton, Canada.

Bridget Osei Henewaa

Annor is based at the Arthur

Labatt Family School of

Nursing, Western

University, London,

Canada.

Received 24 July 2020

Revised 18 May 2022

13 July 2022

4 September 2022

Accepted 2 October 2022

The authors are thankful to

Dr Bukola Salami, who

provided expert intellectual

guidance in framing this paper.

PAGE 332 jINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MIGRATION, HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE jVOL. 18 NO. 4 2022, pp. 332-340, ©EmeraldPublishing Limited, ISSN 1747-9894 DOI 10.1108/IJMHSC-07-2020-0072