Immigrant uncertainty amidst COVID-19

COVID-19 has had its fair share of impact, but in the case of immigration, tensions may be running even higher. With the Trump Administration continuing to change immigration policies and procedures, immigrant communities worry for their health and safety. This page will contain information and updates on how the pandemic is impacting immigration enforcement and immigrant communities.

2:33 PM October 8, 2020

Both legal and illegal immigrants consistently struggle to find proper and affordable healthcare. In light of COVID-19, this uncertainty has grown to new lengths. Some believe that undocumented immigrants should not have access to the same healthcare as native-born citizens. Regardless of your stance, they continue to live among us and are included in our nation’s fight against the pandemic.

As immigration enforcement continues to increase under the Trump Administration, fear of deportation is sweeping immigrant communities. Seeking treatment for COVID-19 symptoms could bare the risk of a visit from ICE. Although, immigration authorities announced near the start of the pandemic that they would not carry out enforcement operations near healthcare facilities.

Whether ICE has upheld this promise or not, immigrants remain wary about getting tested or interacting with medical institutions. Even if they seek care, COVID-19 testing is not free and neither is a trip to the hospital. Government assistance is hard to come by, especially for illegals, taking them back to the drawing board.

Should immigrants be given some leeway during the pandemic? Some public health agencies have tried to maintain a level of trust between immigrants and physicians in hopes that they will seek the care they need. However, anti-immigrant messages and procedures continue to raise concern.

10:06 AM October 12, 2020

I asked my Twitter followers if they believed obtaining health care was easier or harder for illegal immigrants during the pandemic. The results can be seen below:

Immigrant communities continue to struggle during the pandemic and their fears are only growing with the risk of being arrested. This has a lot to do with how ICE is responding to COVID-19 in their detention centers. According to their website, "The health, welfare and safety of ICE detainees is one of the agency's highest priorities."

Despite this claim, many worry that detention centers are posing an even bigger threat to immigrants than the outside world. Overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and lack of health care contribute to their risk.

As ICE's response to COVID-19 remains in question, a report from CNN states that the death toll in ICE custody is at its highest in 15 years. With more than one-third of those who died in custody testing positive for the virus, is detainee health and safety really at the forefront of importance for ICE?

Detention centers remain extremely vulnerable. Urging ICE to take aggressive measures to protect staff and detainees, experts wonder, are they doing enough?

3:03 PM October 12, 2020

COVID-19 has been around much longer than some anticipated. What does this mean for vulnerable immigrant communities?

Some advocate for the release of ICE detainees as their risk for infection could be heightened in detention centers.

The Trump Administration has implemented at least 48 policy changes impacting nearly every aspect of immigration. With legal and economic barriers already threatening legal and undocumented immigrants during this time, some institutions have looked for solutions.

The American Immigration Council believes that ICE should limit enforcement procedures even further during the pandemic. Use of detention centers and deporting immigrants across the world may be contributing to the spread. Others believe that some immigrants should be included in federal relief opportunities, especially DACA recipients and essential workers.

As politicians and health care professionals work together to keep the nation safe, immigrant communities must be considered. This may be a time to forgo the political divide in America and come together to curb the spread of COVID-19. With this is mind, are government bodies and institutions making the right calls? Are people or political agendas being prioritized?

These are merely a couple of lingering questions, and with the upcoming election, everything may change once again. Regardless of its outcome, immigrants remain fearful of their health and safety, both inside and outside the U.S.