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. 2023 Oct;25(5):1077-1084.
doi: 10.1007/s10903-023-01460-x. Epub 2023 Mar 1.

Immigrants' Enforcement Experiences and Concern about Accessing Public Benefits or Services

Lei Chen  1 , Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young  2 , Michael A Rodriguez  3 , Kathryn Kietzman  4
Affiliations

Immigrants' Enforcement Experiences and Concern about Accessing Public Benefits or Services

Lei Chen et al. J Immigr Minor Health. 2023 Oct.

Abstract

Although exclusionary immigration policies are associated with fear of deportation and avoidance of public benefits, relationships between immigration enforcement policy and public charge policies are largely unknown. Using a California population-based survey of 1103 Asian and Latinx immigrants in 2018, we tested the relationship between immigrants' experiences with law enforcement and their concern about public charge. Direct encounters with various forms of law enforcement, including being asked to show proof of citizenship by law enforcement, staying inside to avoid police or immigration officials, and having known someone who had been deported, were associated with immigrants' avoidance of public benefits due to public charge concerns. Latinx immigrants were more likely to be concerns about public charge than Asians. Intersections among immigration policies deserve further consideration. There is a need to provide accurate and reliable information to immigrant communities about public benefits and advocate for inclusive immigration policies.

Keywords: Healthcare access; Immigration Policies; Latinx and Asian immigrants; Law enforcement; Public charge.

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