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Cited by 9Tattoo and Body Piercing ComplicationsCriminal Justice and Corrections AnalysisMigration, Health and Trauma

Tattoo removal as a resettlement service to reduce incarceration among Mexican migrants

Open access
Kremer, Pedro, Pinedo, Miguel, Ferraiolo, Natalie, Vargas-Ojeda, Adriana Carolina, Burgos, Jose Luis, Ojeda, Victoria D.·2020·Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
DOI 10.1007/s10903-019-00870-0PMC PMC6711820
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Abstract

In Mexico, tattooed migrants face discrimination and are at high-risk of incarceration, thus, we assessed whether receiving laser tattoo removal affected the likelihood of incarceration. In 2015-2016, 89 adults ages ≥ 18 years with visible tattoos were recruited at a free-clinic to receive laser tattoo removal or assigned to the wait-list; all completed baseline and 6-month questionnaires. Overall, 97.8% of participants ever migrated to the USA. In multivariate analyses restricted to migrants (n = 87), those receiving laser tattoo removal [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 0.27, 95% CI 0.07-0.89] and possessing a Mexican Voting card (AOR 0.14; 95% CI 0.03-0.58) were significantly less likely than wait-list participants to be incarcerated at 6-months. Previously incarcerated participants were significantly more likely to be incarcerated at follow-up. Tattoo removal may reduce incarceration among Mexican migrants. Future studies can assess other health and social benefits of tattoo removal for migrants/deportees returning to Mexico.

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  • An undocumented status prevents accessing public services (e.g., health care) and the labor market (e.g., employment opportunities).

    “It is critical that all parents and children have legal identification in the receiving country (e.g., Mexico), in order to prevent an undocumented status, which would prevent accessing public services (e.g., health care) and the labor market (e.g., employment opportunities) (61, 73).”

    From Deported Men's and Father's Perspective: The Impacts of Family Separation on Children and Families in the U.S. (2020) · cites this paper as [73]

    The Discussion (page unavailable) suggests that a Mexican government ID may increase migrants’ access to social programs and employment, supporting the claim’s general direction. It does not say that undocumented status prevents access, or specifically link lack of ID to an inability to obtain health care; its claim is narrower and hedged. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Authors
Kremer, P., Pinedo, M., Ferraiolo, N., Vargas-Ojeda, A. C., Burgos, J. L., & Ojeda, V. D.
Affiliations
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • The University of Texas at Austin (US)
  • Scripps Mercy Hospital (US)
  • Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (MX)
Corresponding author
Ojeda, Victoria D.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2019-02-27
Volume
22
Issue
1
Pages
110-119
ISSN
  • 1557-1912 (ISSN-L)
  • 1557-1920
DOI
10.1007/s10903-019-00870-0
PMC
PMC6711820
OpenAlex
W2915539490
Cited by
9
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2
FWCI
10.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Fogarty International Center (R25TW009343, D43TW008633)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (K01MH095680)
  • UCSD Office of Graduate Studies
  • Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies, University of California, San Diego
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Tattoo and Body Piercing Complications
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
Keywords
tattoo removal, laser tattoo removal, incarceration, Mexican immigrants, immigration detention, deportation, discrimination, resettlement services, immigrant health
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Mexico, Middle Aged, Prisoners, Sex Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Tattooing, Time Factors, Transients and Migrants, United States, Waiting Lists, Mexican Americans, Low-Level Light Therapy, Lasers, Solid-State

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