The 45th presidential administration declared its desire to remake federal immigration policy, reducing the number of individuals entering the country in general, and creating barriers to immigration from countries from which low-income, people of color migrate. This study aims to document this phenomenon and assess the impact of the federal government’s escalation of restrictive policies on foreign-born individuals by analyzing data from CHIS.

Specifically, it seeks to identify changes in self-reported emotional distress, health, economic stability, health care and benefits utilization, and to determine whether these are related to the changes at the federal level. Even before the 2016 presidential election, traumas associated with migration and immigration enforcement, as well as the complexity of navigating unfamiliar work, education, and health care settings, contributed to disparities in access and opportunity. Immigrants, or individuals who were born outside of the US, live and work in the US with a range of statuses that depend upon the circumstances under which they entered the country (e.g., through school or work visa, family sponsorship, seeking asylum, or evading border inspection.)

The most vulnerable immigrants are those who crossed the border without inspection, or who remain in the country after visas expire. These populations are referred to throughout as “undocumented”. However, because of the nature of federal immigration policy initiatives under this administration, individuals coming to the US through family sponsorship, work sponsorship, or even permanent residents with green cards, may also experience the impact of a hostile and restrictive policy environment.