A Scoping Review to Explore the Intersection of Immigration-Related Policies and Immigrants' Health Access and Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated existing health inequities in the U.S., disproportionately affecting marginalized groups, particularly immigrants. Structural barriers, institutional inequalities, and exclusion from relief measures may have worsened these communities' health outcomes. Additionally, anti-immigrant rhetoric, restrictive policies, and fear of deportation may have deterred many immigrants from accessing essential services, affecting both their physical and mental health. This scoping review examines immigrant health access, outcomes, and relevant policies during the pandemic using the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. Key findings highlight widespread distrust in government, limited healthcare access, and significant adverse mental health challenges among immigrants during the pandemic, which may be worsened by restrictive immigration policies such as revisions to the public charge rule.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Health access; Health outcomes; Immigrants; Restrictive policies; United States.