Genetic Testing Immigration and Family Reunification: Impact on Hispanic Familie

描述（由申请人提供）：该项目将解决伦理，法律的和社会影响的基因检测作为美国移民程序的一部分，为家庭团聚。去年，以法律的永久居民身份来到美国的移民中，约有三分之二是根据家庭团聚条款由家庭担保的。根据这项规定，担保人必须是美国公民或永久居民，向美国公民及移民服务局（USCIS）申请将其家庭成员（配偶、子女、父母或兄弟姐妹）带到美国。S.作为申请过程的一部分，担保人必须出示所谓的家庭关系证明。这通常通过文件（例如出生证明）来完成。但是，当文件缺乏或不足，或怀疑欺诈，美国移民官员可能会建议DNA测试（亲子关系或兄弟姐妹测试）作为一种方法来验证家庭关系。在过去几年中，DNA测试在移民程序中越来越频繁，但这种测试可能对移民及其家庭或社区产生的影响尚不清楚。这项研究的目的是探讨DNA测试可能对墨西哥家庭产生的积极和消极影响，墨西哥家庭是过去一年进入美国的最大移民群体（14%），特别是测试结果可能如何影响家庭关系，社会适应性和心理健康。这项研究的具体目的是利用与墨西哥家庭的访谈，（1）确定墨西哥移民家庭如何界定和理解他们彼此之间的家庭关系;（2）审查墨西哥移民家庭对使用基因检测证明所谓的家庭关系作为移民家庭团聚过程的一部分的潜在影响（积极和消极）的看法。这项研究的结果将用于（3）编写教育材料，包括（a）为计划根据家庭团聚规定赞助家庭成员的移民编写的宣传手册和（B）为决策者编写的道德“考虑要点”文件，倡导者和移民社区关于研究结果及其对家庭重新使用DNA检测的影响，家庭团聚与公共卫生的相关性：家庭团聚政策基于这样一种理解，即移民家庭成员与其近亲团聚有助于他们的心理健康，从而促进美国的健康和福利。这项研究将评估新的基因技术对这一重要移民政策的潜在积极和消极影响。公共卫生相关性：我的最终职业目标是成为一名学术研究人员，专注于遗传技术在社会中的伦理，法律的和社会影响。我在这项提案中的具体研究目标，由我作为移民的经验支持，是探索法律和政策与遗传科学在移民政策发展中的交叉点。拟议的研究将考虑使用基因检测移民程序来实现家庭团聚，并将探讨基因检测在移民视角下对家庭定义和家庭关系构建的潜在影响。这个项目将使我能够发展社会科学和法律方面的研究和分析技能。通过这项培训补助金完成的研究和写作将成为我博士论文的一部分，这将更广泛地考虑基因检测的使用如何影响移民家庭和社区的健康和社会结构。除了发展具体的研究技能和生产有关墨西哥移民对家庭团聚中使用基因检测的观点的知识体系，这个项目将有助于我作为一个独立的研究人员解决有关遗传科学的伦理和政策问题的职业生涯做好准备，“在完成我的博士学位后，1预期追求博士后奖学金的设置，我可以继续与基因组学和移民和其他少数民族社区的需求和关注的政策相关的研究，并随后寻求一个教师的位置，我可以继续和进一步发展这项工作。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This project will address the ethical, legal and social implications of the use of genetic testing as part of US immigration procedures for family reunification. Last year, approximately two-thirds of immigrants who came to the US as legal permanent residents were family sponsored under the family reunification provision. Under this provision a sponsor, who must be a US citizen or permanent resident, petitions to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to bring his or her family members (spouse, children, parents or siblings) to the U. S. As part of the application process, the sponsor is required to show proof of alleged family relationships. This is typically done through documentation (e.g. birth certificates). But when documents are lacking or insufficient, or fraud is suspected, US immigration officials may suggest DNA testing (parentage or sibling testing) as a way to verify family relationships. In the past several years, DNA testing has become more frequent in immigration procedures, but the impact such testing may have on immigrants, their families or their communities, is not known. The objective of this study is to explore the positive and negative effects DNA testing may have on Mexican families, the largest immigrant group (14 percent) entering the US in the past year, particularly how test results might impact family relationships, social adaptability, and psychological well-being. The specific aims of the study are to use interviews with Mexican families to (1) Identify how Mexican immigrant families define and understand their familial ties to one another; and (2) Examine Mexican immigrant families' perceptions about the potential effects (positive and negative) of using genetic testing to prove alleged family relationships as part of the family reunification process in immigration. Endings from this research will be used to (3) Develop educational materials including (a) an informational brochure for immigrants planning to sponsor a family member under family re- unification provisions and (b) an ethical "points-to-consider" document to inform policy-makers, advocates and immigrant communities about findings of the study and their implications for the use of DNA testing in family re-unification Relevance to public health: Family reunification policies are based on the understanding that the reunion of immigrant family members with their close relatives supports their psychological well-being and in so doing promotes the health and welfare of the United States. This study will assess the implications of new genetic technology for its potential positive and negative effects on this important immigration policy. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: My ultimate career goal is to become an academic researcher focusing on the ethical, legal and social implications of genetic technologies in society. My particular research goal in this proposal, supported by my experiences as an immigrant, is to explore the intersection of law and policy with genetic science in the development of immigration policy. The proposed research will consider the use of genetic testing immigration procedures for family re-unification, and will explore the potential impact of genetic testing in the context of immigrant perspectives on how families are defined and family ties constructed. This project will enable me to develop research and analytical skills in social science and law. Research and writing done through this training grant will be part of my doctoral dissertation, which will more broadly consider how the use of genetic testing influences the health and social structure of immigrant families and communities. In addition to developing specific research skills and producing a body of knowledge about Mexican immigrant perspectives on the use of genetic testing in family re-unification, this project will help to prepare me for a career as an independent investigator addressing ethical and policy questions relating to genetic science,' After completion of my PhD, 1 anticipate pursuing a post-doctoral fellowship in a setting where I can continue policy-relevant research related to genomics and the needs and concerns of immigrant and other minority communities, and subsequently seeking a faculty position where 1 can continue and further develop this work.