Immigrant Service Access Needs and Recommendations in the U.S.–Mexico Border Region: A Qualitative Study

Megan Finno-Velasquez, Carolina Villamil Grest, Sophia Sepp (), Danisha Baro and Gloria Brownell
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Megan Finno-Velasquez: School of Social Work, College of Health Education and Social Transformation, New Mexico State University, 1335 International Mall, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
Carolina Villamil Grest: School of Social Work, College of Public Health, Temple University, 1301 Cecile B. Moore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
Sophia Sepp: School of Social Work, College of Health Education and Social Transformation, New Mexico State University, 1335 International Mall, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
Danisha Baro: School of Social Work, College of Health Education and Social Transformation, New Mexico State University, 1335 International Mall, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
Gloria Brownell: School of Social Work, College of Health Education and Social Transformation, New Mexico State University, 1335 International Mall, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA

Social Sciences, 2025, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-20

Abstract: Immigrant and mixed-status families comprise a growing population in the United States, facing numerous barriers to accessing essential health and social services. This study examines service access barriers within the unique context of New Mexico’s borderlands, where constitutionally protected bilingualism and welcoming local policies contrast sharply with restrictive federal border enforcement. Using a qualitative approach, we conducted five focus groups with 36 immigrant caregivers in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, with the objective of understanding the factors that facilitate and hinder immigrant families’ access to health, behavioral health, and social services in this socio-politically complex border environment. Thematic analysis revealed three overarching themes: (1) structural and organizational limitations, including language barriers and transportation challenges exacerbated by border checkpoints; (2) the persistence of “chilling effects” on service use despite a Democratic presidency and post-pandemic policy shifts; and (3) community-defined recommendations for improving service access. The findings demonstrate how federal immigration enforcement undermines local inclusion efforts, creating enduring barriers to service access even in historically bilingual, immigrant-friendly regions. The participants proposed specific solutions, including mobile service units and integrated service centers, that account for both geographic and socio-political barriers unique to border regions. These community-generated recommendations offer practical strategies for improving immigrant service access in contexts where local welcome and federal enforcement create competing pressures on immigrant families.

Keywords: immigrant families; service access; U.S.–Mexico border; qualitative research; community-defined solutions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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