Amid the Trump administration's intensified immigration enforcement, immigrants are avoiding medical care in large numbers out of fear of being arrested. Medical institutions across the country have reported an increase in delayed or abandoned treatment among pregnant women and sick children, resulting in avoidable cases such as stillbirths, ruptured appendices, and perforated eardrums. Doctors from Minneapolis, North Carolina, Dallas, and Los Angeles said this trend is not limited to "hotspot" areas of enforcement but is a nationwide phenomenon. Data also confirm these concerns: the rate of missed medical appointments has significantly increased, and vaccination rates in immigrant communities have clearly declined. Dallas health officials stated that the number of Spanish-speaking children receiving school-entry vaccinations in August 2025 was nearly halved compared to the same time the previous year, with patients frequently expressing fear of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). To address the "disappearance" of patients, hospitals and community clinics have revived pandemic-era practices, expanding telemedicine, home visits, and enhanced outreach. A children's hospital in Minnesota offers home services for families who are afraid to go out; several clinics in Los Angeles have adjusted their procedures, communicating by phone in advance and using remote consultations to reduce no-shows. Despite these efforts, pediatricians report that emergency room visits have decreased but hospitalization rates have increased, with patients arriving at the hospital with more severe conditions, and children's mental health has deteriorated.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856175997200715/
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