Recent research and policy changes in 2025 have brought urgent attention to how immigration status can become a death sentence during public health emergencies. New data, shifting laws, and evolving enforcement practices have created a landscape where immigrants—especially those without legal status—face higher risks to their health and lives. This update explains what has changed, who is affected, what actions are required, and what these developments mean for pending applications and the future of immigrant health and safety in the United States 🇺🇸.
Summary of What Changed
- New research led by Alicia Riley at UC Santa Cruz shows that undocumented immigrants in California faced a 55% increase in death rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Latino essential workers who were potentially undocumented experiencing a 91% increase.
- Federal and state policies have shifted, with some states cutting health coverage for immigrants and the federal government enacting laws that expand detention and limit access to health and social services.
- The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed by President Trump on July 4, 2025, increases funding for immigration detention, including family detention, and cuts access to health and nutrition programs for many immigrants.
- Enforcement practices have become stricter, with increased deportations, reduced legal protections, and policies that make it harder for immigrants to access healthcare without fear.
- Advocacy groups and public health experts are calling for urgent action to protect immigrant communities and reduce health disparities.
Let’s break down these changes, who is affected, and what steps immigrants and their families should take now.
1. New Research: Immigration Status and Death Rates During COVID-19
A major study published on July 24, 2025, by Alicia Riley and her team at UC Santa Cruz, with help from UCSF, Stanford, MIT, and Boston University, looked at how immigration status affected death rates in California during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020–May 2023). The findings are alarming:
- Undocumented immigrants saw a 55% increase in deaths compared to before the pandemic.
- Documented immigrants had a 22% increase.
- U.S.-born citizens had a 12% increase.
- Latino essential workers who were potentially undocumented had the highest increase, at 91%.
These numbers show that immigration status is not just a legal label—it can mean the difference between life and death during a crisis. The study found that undocumented immigrants faced:
- More exposure to the virus at work (especially in jobs that could not be done from home).
- Less access to healthcare and social services.
- More stress, which can weaken the immune system.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, this is the first study to clearly show how different immigration statuses led to different death rates during the pandemic, especially among Latino communities.
2. Policy Changes at the State Level (2024–2025)
States have responded in very different ways to the needs of immigrants:
- Some states are cutting health coverage for immigrants, blaming budget problems and less federal money.
- Other states are expanding protections, making it easier for immigrants to get healthcare and other help.
The federal budget reconciliation bill, passed by Congressional Republicans, will cut over $1 trillion from federal health programs over the next ten years. This means states will have even less money to help immigrants get health coverage.
Some states have also passed laws that make immigration enforcement stricter, similar to policies from the Trump administration. These laws can make immigrants—especially those without legal status—afraid to use health services, even for their U.S. citizen children.
Who is affected?
- Undocumented immigrants are most at risk, but even some documented immigrants may lose access to health programs.
- Mixed-status families (where some members are citizens and others are not) may avoid seeking help out of fear.
- Essential workers, especially in Latino communities, face the highest risks.
3. Federal Policy and Enforcement: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). This law brings several big changes:
- Increases funding for immigration detention to $45 billion through 2029, quadrupling the budget for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
- Allows family detention, including keeping children and families in detention for long periods, which goes against earlier court protections.
- Cuts access to health insurance and nutrition aid for many lawfully present immigrants.
- Removes anti-poverty benefits like the Child Tax Credit for millions of children with immigrant parents.
Experts warn that these changes will make health and economic problems worse for immigrant families. Many will lose access to basic needs like food and healthcare, making it even harder to survive during public health crises.
Earlier in 2025, President Trump also signed executive orders that:
- Increase military presence at the southern border.
- Suspend refugee admissions.
- Bring back the “Remain in Mexico” policy, forcing asylum seekers to wait outside the United States 🇺🇸 for their cases to be heard.
These policies make it much harder for people fleeing danger to get protection or healthcare.
4. Legal Protections and Due Process
In April 2025, a federal judge stopped the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from sending non-citizens to third countries without proper hearings. This practice had put many immigrants at risk by denying them a fair chance to explain their cases.
However, other fast-track deportation processes are still in place. These make it hard for immigrants to defend themselves in court and increase fear in immigrant communities. Many people avoid going to court or seeking help because they are afraid of being detained or deported.
Some members of Congress from both parties have criticized these harsh enforcement practices, saying they are unfair and make people less likely to attend their hearings. This can lead to more missed court dates, more deportations, and more families being separated.
5. Public Health and Advocacy Responses
Public health experts and advocacy groups are sounding the alarm about the dangers immigrants face. The HIP Public Health Guide for Immigration Justice (June 2025) lists ten actions health agencies should take to protect immigrants, including:
- Resisting harmful enforcement policies that scare people away from healthcare.
- Working with immigrant communities to build trust.
- Expanding access to healthcare and social services for everyone, regardless of immigration status.
The guide stresses that public health workers have a duty to help all people, not just citizens. It calls for stronger partnerships between health agencies and immigrant groups to make sure everyone can get care during emergencies.
6. Practical Implications for Immigrants
These changes have real-life effects on immigrants and their families:
- Undocumented immigrants are more likely to work in jobs where they are exposed to diseases like COVID-19.
- Many are afraid to get tested, treated, or vaccinated because they fear being reported to immigration authorities.
- Lack of health insurance and legal status means many cannot afford care.
- The stress of living with the threat of detention or deportation can cause serious mental health problems.
- When a family member dies or is detained, families lose income and support, leading to long-term problems.
Legal and policy barriers also mean that many immigrants cannot get help from programs like Medicaid, Medicare, or the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces. This makes it even harder to stay healthy during a crisis.
7. Required Actions for Immigrants and Families
Given these changes, immigrants and their families should:
- Stay informed about their rights and any changes to health coverage in their state.
- Seek help from trusted organizations like the National Immigration Law Center or local immigrant rights groups.
- Know that some states still offer health coverage to immigrants, even if federal programs do not. Check with your state health department for details.
- Document all interactions with immigration authorities and seek legal help if facing detention or deportation.
- Contact public health agencies for information on how to get care safely, even if you do not have legal status.
For official information on health coverage options for immigrants, visit the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services page on coverage for immigrants.
8. Implications for Pending Applications
If you have a pending immigration application, these changes may affect you:
- Longer detention times are possible under OBBBA, especially for families.
- Reduced access to health and nutrition programs may apply even if you are lawfully present.
- Stricter enforcement means you should be extra careful to attend all hearings and respond to any requests from immigration authorities.
- Legal representation is more important than ever. Some advocacy groups are pushing for laws to guarantee lawyers for immigrants, but this is not yet the law everywhere.
If you are applying for benefits or relief, check the latest rules and seek legal advice. For immigration forms, always use the official government website. For example, if you need to file Form I-589 for asylum, use the USCIS official page.
9. Future Outlook and What to Watch
Looking ahead, the expansion of detention and enforcement under OBBBA will continue through at least 2029 unless new laws are passed. State-level fights over immigrant health coverage will likely get more intense, especially as federal funding drops.
Advocacy groups and some lawmakers are working to:
- Pass laws that guarantee legal help for immigrant children and adults.
- Expand public health protections to include all immigrants.
- Continue research on how immigration status affects health, so future policies can be better informed.
Monitoring of death rates and health outcomes by immigration status will continue, helping to guide future reforms.
10. Key Stakeholders and Resources
If you need help or want to learn more, these are some important contacts:
- Researchers: Alicia Riley, UC Santa Cruz (mortality study lead).
- Advocacy Groups: Public Health Awakened, National Immigration Law Center, Kaiser Family Foundation.
- Government Agencies: Department of Homeland Security, state health departments.
- Public Health Guide Support: [email protected]
Actionable Takeaways
- Immigration status can have life-or-death consequences during public health crises, as shown by Alicia Riley’s research.
- Policy changes at both state and federal levels are making it harder for immigrants to access healthcare and social services.
- Families should stay informed, seek legal help, and use trusted resources to protect themselves.
- Advocacy and public health groups are pushing for change, but immediate risks remain high for undocumented and mixed-status families.
- Pending applications may face new hurdles, so careful attention to deadlines, legal requirements, and official updates is critical.
For the most current information on immigration status, health coverage, and your rights, always check official government sources and connect with trusted advocacy organizations. The situation is changing quickly, and staying informed is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Learn Today
Undocumented immigrant → A person residing without official legal permission or visa in a country.
One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) → A 2025 U.S. law increasing immigration detention funding and restricting immigrant health and welfare access.
Immigration detention → The act of holding immigrants in custody during removal or legal proceedings.
Health coverage → Insurance or programs providing access to medical care and services.
Mixed-status families → Households with members holding different immigration statuses, such as citizens and undocumented immigrants.
This Article in a Nutshell
New research reveals undocumented immigrants face deadly health risks exacerbated by recent federal laws like OBBBA. These changes worsen inequities. Immigrant families must stay informed, seek legal help, and access trusted resources to navigate increased detention, reduced benefits, and health care barriers amid ongoing public health crises.
— By VisaVerge.com
