The impact of immigration and customs enforcement on immigrant health: Perceptions of immigrants in Everett, Massachusetts, USA

A series of focus groups were conducted in Everett, MA - a community with a sizeable foreign-born population - and were offered in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Arabic, and English for immigrants of other backgrounds. Documented (37%) and undocumented (63%) participants across all the focus groups described living with a constant fear of deportation, either for themselves or their loved ones. This theme had important implications for another identified theme, which was the fear of providing personal information in order to obtain health insurance or health care services, as well as pervasive feelings of anxiety and hopelessness, which could lead to avoidance of health care. Participants also offered recommendations for service providers and policymakers working on behalf of immigrants, including the need for additional education on issues such as health care access and "know your rights" presentations. They stressed the need for advocacy on issues such as access to driver's licenses and higher education for undocumented immigrants. Finally, they also suggested that health care workers receive training on issues impacting immigrant communities, as well as diversification of the workforce to reflect the actual makeup of Everett's population. (Immigrant Integration Lab, Boston College)

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