Barriers to health care and their consequences for undocumented Mexican migrants in Los Angeles: A qualitative analysis.

Abstract

This study reveals the profound barriers faced by undocumented Mexican migrants in Los Angeles in accessing healthcare services. Using a phenomenological qualitative approach, it documents experiences shaped by fear, discrimination, high costs, bureaucracy, and language barriers, all of which hinder timely and dignified medical care. These conditions not only impact their physical and mental health but also compel them to adopt survival strategies such as self-medication, traditional remedies, or forced return to Mexico. Drawing on theoretical frameworks such as those of Rawls, Penchansky, and Marmot, the study highlights how the system perpetuates structural inequalities and violates fundamental human rights. Nevertheless, migrants demonstrate remarkable resilience by building support networks and alternative forms of care. This research calls for a rethinking of health policies from an inclusive, intercultural, and social justice-oriented perspective.