Researchers have thought of many possible solutions based on the information they gathered and their overall personal opinions. These solutions may provide Mexican immigrants with the resources they need for healthcare, land, and rights as people who are tirelessly working and contributing to society. Healthcare workers can bring awareness to the struggle within Mexican immigrant communities and the lack of healthcare access and they could provide services to Mexican immigrants who need care but cannot afford it by breaking away from federal rules against immigration (Nuño, et al., 410). Healthcare programs should be available to everyone and not just depending on a person’s legal status. When healthcare facilities are not providing their care, they are denying human beings of good health and support they deserve as living beings.
Other possible solutions can be based on changes made within governmental and societal hierarchies. In two of the journals for this research, the researchers pose changes within the United States hierarchies. Both Hamilton and Cheney, based on an interview with Pittalwala (2023), think that there should be a hierarchy system that does not use the term “illegal” for anyone (Hamilton et al., 4) (Pittalwala). This will allow people from other countries to have some sort of residence and be able to access health care, education, and other resources and not be deemed “illegal.” This term has been used in many negative ways and now there are numerous stereotypes that follow it. If this term is no longer used, there will no longer be those specific stereotypes that are “othering” a person or suggesting they don’t belong. There have also been discussions about increasing the fines for violating pesticide use to help decrease the use of them for people’s health, especially the workers (Harrison, 32). This could be beneficial to the health of the farmworkers as it may decrease the amount of pesticides that are seeping through their skin and getting into their lungs. Levkoe believes that alliances between labor justice movements and food system sustainability movements should work together to improve working environments for farmworkers, (Levkoe et al., 132). When movements collaborate a whole new meaning can be created. There are many movements relating to these topics that could align one day. There are also some things that have already begun to help resolve this environmental injustice.
Fortunately, there are some things that have already been implemented. The state of California has already begun to implement policies that will help undocumented immigrants get help when they are being exploited by agriculture employers. According to the state Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, the state has created a $4.5 million program for immigrant farm workers specifically (Office of Governor Gavin Newsom). This will provide them with legal services with attorneys who will start and review cases at no cost. The state is aware of the exploitation of immigrant farm workers and is trying to support them in a way that many Mexican immigrants have not been provided with in the past, even in other states. With this being a recent program, research will have only begun on how well this will work, and on how many undocumented immigrants actually come forward and use this as a resource. It will be interesting to see how well this works because many immigrant farm workers who are undocumented are afraid they will be deported. In order to increase mental health rates in the Mexican immigrant communities, Cheney explains that there are arts and crafts classes for anyone, more outdoor areas to play in, and indoor areas with cool air and exercise activities and games (p.11). A person’s mental health is extremely important to focus on especially when their physical health could be improved on. Simple changes can go a long way in supporting a community and helping them feel like they belong and have something more than simply working on a farm all day long.
Conclusion
Physical health, exploitation, and lack of healthcare all seem to follow the life of a Mexican immigrant farmworker. The legal status of an individual and the country where they were born should not mean that they will not be given the same care, salary, and work hours as those who are already living in the United States. A specific group of people should not be targeted to do jobs that others do not want to do because they know the risks to their health. Mexican immigrant farmworkers need to be viewed as human beings who need rest, water, healthcare, and money just like everyone else. These jobs are setting them up for illness and failure. No one can provide happily for their families if they are hardly making money at a job that is killing them. It is not fair for the individual or the family. Undocumented is just a term, it should not be used to make decisions on what will or will not be given to a person.