With the closing of community clinics, Mexican immigrants who live in New York City's outer boroughs now must travel to Manhattan to access healthcare.

"It takes me an hour to get there, but fortunately they continue to provide services," Miriam Huerta said about the trip she makes from the Bronx to Lower Manhattan in order to get routine medical exams.

Huerta, a mother of two, ages 3 and 6, explained that like many other immigrant Mexican women in the city, she has resorted to services offered at hospitals in Manhattan, because the clinics in the boroughs where they live have shut down.

"I come from the Bronx. I bring my kids along because I don't have anyone to take care of them. It takes us about three hours to go and come back. It's practically the whole day," said Mrs. Hernandez, who is also a homemaker and takes care of her two young children.

Effects of budget cuts

The closing of clinics throughout the city has affected hundreds of families, especially those who live in cash-strapped boroughs.

"Services used to be located nearby, but they shut down because they ran out of money. Now we have to go to Manhattan, but at least we still have access to services. There are other states that don't want to help out sick immigrants," said Miriam, who is originally from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Prevention services are essential for women like Mrs. Hernandez, who don't have health insurance or can't get it because their immigration status prevents them from qualifying. "In my case," explained Hernandez, "I got a breast exam, one of the many important tests that women need. We still have access to these things, but we have to travel farther to reach them."