Much of the news coverage on the ongoing immigration crisis at the Mexico-United States border has been framed in terms of politics, economics and security. However, a less visible but equally critical dimension also demands attention: the profound public health challenges impacting migrants and border communities.
A recent commentary published in One Health Outlook suggests that the Mexico-United States border faces critical disparities due to the lack of strategies to face emerging health issues. The authors emphasize the urgent need for a One Health approach — a collaborative, multidisciplinary strategy recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health — to address these challenges effectively.
The strategy involves surveillance systems, data-sharing across sectors, joint risk assessments, and integrated interventions to address zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and environmental health challenges — all factors that are not adequately in practice in the region.
Taking inspiration from the commentary, here are a few story ideas to consider:
1. The resurgence of tuberculosis
Even as tuberculosis (TB) rates decline nationally, the U.S.-Mexico border region remains a hotspot for this infectious disease. A compelling story could explore why this is the case, examining the factors driving TB transmission among migrant populations. Studies have found no significant link between immigration and increased tuberculosis prevalence along the U.S.-Mexico border. It’s important to avoid suggesting that immigrants are a primary source of tuberculosis transmission in the U.S. as this claim is not supported by evidence.
There remains no evidence linking the size of the immigrant population, including illegal immigrants, and the spread of serious communicable diseases.
Instead, investigate how poverty, limited access to health care, and the very act of migrating contribute to the spread. Delve into whether cultural beliefs and understanding (or a lack thereof) about TB transmission influence prevention and treatment efforts. What are border states doing to combat TB outbreaks within migrant communities? Are they providing resources for diagnosis and treatment that are culturally sensitive and accessible? The story could also address the challenges of tracking and controlling TB as it crosses the border, highlighting the need for binational cooperation.
2. Displacement and HIV/AIDS risk
Research suggests that large migration areas on the U.S.-Mexico border can significantly increase a person’s vulnerability to HIV infection. A powerful narrative lies behind the data. Consider exploring how displacement and marginalization heighten HIV risk. The story could examine how the stresses of migration, combined with unstable living conditions, lack of medical care, and possible changes in behavior, create a perfect storm for HIV transmission. It is unclear how the Trump Administration’s proposed dismantling of USAID, which has historically prioritized initiatives including HIV prevention, will impact disease rates in the region.
Given that Hispanic migrants are disproportionately affected by HIV in border states, the story could focus on the specific challenges they face. It’s crucial to uncover what prevention and treatment programs are available for migrants living with HIV/AIDS in the border region, if these programs are overcoming cultural and linguistic barriers, and how the real fear of deportation impacts people’s willingness to seek and maintain care.
3. Sanitation crisis yields water and foodborne illnesses
A critical, yet often overlooked, aspect of the border crisis is the lack of adequate sanitation and access to clean water. This creates breeding grounds for waterborne and foodborne illnesses. In 2023, the Biden administration published a report showing that many communities along the U.S.-Mexico border lack proper water and wastewater services, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. The report recommended increasing funding and research to improve the management of water resources between the U.S. and Mexico.
Consider telling the story of these illnesses among Americans living close to the border, as well as migrant communities, especially those living in informal settlements and camps. The investigation could focus on how environmental issues such as contaminated water and inadequate waste disposal contribute to the transmission of these illnesses. The story could examine the main sources of water contamination in the border region, highlight efforts by local authorities to improve sanitation and water quality in migrant communities and propose which public health interventions are most needed to prevent outbreaks of these preventable illnesses.
4. Zoonotic disease spillover
Environmental degradation and increased interaction between humans and animals along the border are raising the specter of zoonotic diseases, those that jump from animals to humans. Diseases don’t respect national borders, and studies suggest that the Rio Grande region is considered a single, continuous landscape where zoonotic pathogens circulate freely.
A vital story could explore how urbanization, deforestation, and agricultural expansion are disrupting ecosystems and bringing people and wildlife into closer contact, thereby increasing the risk of new diseases emerging. This investigation should identify the zoonotic diseases that pose the greatest threat to public health in the border region, outline the surveillance and monitoring systems to detect these threats and recommend land use planning and conservation measures to mitigate the risk of zoonotic disease spillover.
5. The Unseen Scars of Migration
Beyond physical health, the immigration crisis is also fueling a mental health crisis among migrants. Research suggests that while mental health issues in the U.S.-Mexico border communities may be similar to patterns seen in Hispanic communities in non-border areas, border residents face unique stressors, such as economic hardship, immigration concerns, and limited access to health care, which could contribute to higher rates of mental health issues compared to Hispanic populations living in non-border regions.
Stories could explore the trauma of migration, coupled with uncertainty, discrimination, and family separation, while specifically focusing on the prevalence of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other trauma-related disorders within the migrant community. It should also investigate the existing barriers to mental health care, such as language and cultural differences, stigma and lack of access to insurance. The story can highlight effective mental health services tailored to migrants and highlight ways communities can better support their mental well-being.
