Police Victimization Among Persons Who Inject Drugs Along the U.S.–Mexico Border

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Objective: Problematic policing practices are an important driver of HIV infection among persons who inject drugs (PWID) in the U.S.-Mexico border region. This study identifies factors associated with recent (i.e., past 6 months) police victimization (e.g., extortion, physical and sexual violence) in the border city of Tijuana, Mexico. Method: From 2011 to 2013, 733 PWID (62% male) were recruited in Tijuana and completed a structured questionnaire. Eligible participants were age 18 years or older, injected illicit drugs within the past month, and spoke Spanish or English. Multivariable logistic regression analyses identified correlates of recent experiences of police victimization (e.g., bribes, unlawful confiscation, physical and sexual violence).

The impact of recent homelessness on the provision of injection drug use initiation assistance among persons who inject drugs in Tijuana, Mexico and Vancouver, Canada

“…This centralization reduces barriers to recruiting and providing resources to PWID. Whereas, in Tijuana, homelessness is more dispersed and encampments that do arise are frequently subject to law enforcement interaction (Gaines et al, 2015;Melo et al, 2018;Pinedo et al, 2015). As such, our study reflects on the relationship between homelessness and IDU initiation assistance provision across two heterogenous settings, expanding the potential generalizability of our findings.…”

Deported Men's and Father's Perspective: The Impacts of Family Separation on Children and Families in the U.S.

“…Finally, the framework proposes that the deportation process and event also affect the deportee's outcomes and the post-deportation circumstances of the deportee may have a reciprocal effect on the family and household remaining in the U.S. The well-being of migrants post-deportation has been examined in some diverse contexts (9,18,(57)(58)(59)(60)(61) though the longitudinal and reciprocal relationships with their U.S.-based families have not received attention. This framework should be tested in qualitative and quantitative studies with diverse national origin migrant communities to better understand the impacts of deportation and family separation.…”

“Pick up anything that moves”: a qualitative analysis of a police crackdown against people who use drugs in Tijuana, Mexico

“…Police crackdown operations continue in Tijuana, despite ample evidence that zero-tolerance policing has done nothing to curb violent crime and has resulted in elevated harm to PWUD and other vulnerable groups (Velasco & Albicker, 2013). Previous research has focused on the pervasive police violence against PWUD in Tijuana from the perspective of the victims (Albicker, 2014;Pinedo et al, 2015;Wood et al, 2017). However, this study is innovative in its focus on drug law enforcement from the perspective of MPOs, contributing to the emerging literature about officers' attitudes and behaviors on drug law enforcement (Contreras-Velasco, 2017).…”