2025 Theses Master's

Exclusion by Design: Healthcare Access, State Power, and the Marginalization of Undocumented Immigrants in the United States

Caballero, Aranza

The thesis examines the systemic exclusion of undocumented immigrants from healthcare access in the United States, arguing that such exclusion is a deliberate exercise of state power rather than an unavoidable policy outcome. Drawing on political theory, legal analysis, public health data, and human rights frameworks, the project situates healthcare exclusion within broader structures of governmentality, biopolitics, and deservingness.

Through theoretical foundations rooted in the work of Foucault and Agamben, and a case study of Texas, the thesis reveals how legal frameworks, political rhetoric, and fear-based governance converge to marginalize undocumented individuals, reshaping healthcare institutions and worsening community health outcomes. It further critiques the citizen-based model of human rights, highlighting how the dependence on undocumented labor creates both a moral and economic obligation to ensure healthcare access.

By analyzing international models and the emergency health policies adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the thesis demonstrates that more inclusive healthcare systems are not only feasible but essential for public health and social justice. Ultimately, it calls for a reimagining of U.S. healthcare policy grounded in universality, human dignity, and the recognition that health is a fundamental right for all residents, regardless of legal status.