Deportation History among HIV-Positive Latinos in Two US-Mexico Border Communities

Health-related vulnerabilities associated with deportation are understudied. We conducted a cross-sectional study to identify factors associated with history of deportation from the US to Mexico among HIV-positive Latinos. 

From 2009 to 2010, we recruited a convenience sample from HIV clinics in San Diego, US and Tijuana, Mexico. Of 283 participants, 25% reported a prior deportation. Factors independently associated with increased odds of deportation history were being male, having ≤high-school education, ever using cocaine, and reporting personalized HIV-stigma: "some have told me HIV is what I deserve for how I lived". Lower self-reported antiretroviral medication adherence and perceiving HIV-stigma: "most people believe a person who has HIV is dirty" were associated with decreased odds of deportation history. 

Deportation is associated with specific socioeconomic indicators that are known to impact the health of individuals living with HIV.

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By: Muñoz FA1, Servin AE, Garfein RS, Ojeda VD, Rangel G, Zúñiga ML.

• 1Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.  

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