Opinion | Immigrants among those disproportionately hurt in coronavirus crisis

Over the past few weeks, COVID-19 has surged around the world and particularly ravaged the community I serve in Detroit. All people are at risk of contracting this virus – no matter their nationality or social status. However, as a health care professional working on the front lines of the crisis, I’ve seen how certain communities are being disproportionately impacted due to pre-existing challenges -- including immigrants.  

The outbreak of coronavirus has exacerbated the gross inequalities of our health care system and we are seeing, in real time, the impact on many of the communities that have been left behind. The stimulus package recently approved by Congress, for instance, provides some critical unemployment assistance and funding for medical care. However, much of the additional coverage for testing and treatment of the virus will not be available to millions of immigrants and their families. 

As we all know, Detroit has been hit very hard by this virus, but in southwest Detroit, with its high concentration of immigrants, the situation is unique. For those living in southwest Detroit undocumented, fear was already very high, largely due to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the neighborhood around the Ambassador Bridge. This fear can paralyze patients and prevent them from reaching out for services for themselves and their children. We have patients that won’t make it to appointments, won’t pick up their medicines and others that won’t even go to the grocery store to get food. We have seen this fear worsen our patients’ physical and psychological health. 

We also have patients that may be applying for residency or citizenship that have forfeited their Medicaid coverage due to fear of the Trump administration’s Public Charge rule. When people do not have medical insurance they will wait to seek medical care. We know this will worsen the disease process and will also increase the risk of exposure to others in the community.

When immigrants avoid seeking medical care due to lack of insurance or fear of jeopardizing their legal status, or worse, subjection to immigration enforcement, lives are at stake. As someone who is trained to prioritize the health and well-being of my patients, it is devastating to know that families have been terrorized to the point that they cannot trust our systems to provide care without putting them in harm’s way. 

By driving immigrants into hiding and excluding them from accessing testing and care related to COVID-19, we’re also putting their neighbors, friends and family at risk. Especially during this pandemic, we are only as strong and healthy as the community around us. We cannot leave a community to get sick and expect it not to spread. Social distancing can only do so much; access to treatment and testing must play a key role in mitigating the spread of this virus.

Another alarming issue is the fact that tens of thousands of immigrants continue to be held in jails and detention centers across the country, leaving them highly vulnerable to outbreaks of contagious diseases like COVID-19. Immigration enforcement agencies have a shameful track record of medical negligence, poor sanitation, and an inability to properly respond to past outbreaks of infectious diseases. It doesn’t take a doctor to know that ICE and Border Patrol agents are not equipped to do the job of trained medical professionals and a detention center is no place for someone who is sick. Unless migrants are immediately released from detention, the threat of the virus will only grow and more people will needlessly be put at risk. This includes migrants, detention staff, and the surrounding community.

Immigrants deserve protections not only because they are integral parts of our communities, but also because there are millions of immigrant families who are at the front lines of combatting the impacts of the pandemic. A CATO Institute report shows that there are nearly 1.7 million immigrant medical and health care workers who are caring for COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, nearly 1.5 million immigrants work in delivery, shipping, and trucking, and over 700,000 immigrant workers cultivate and process a significant portion of America’s food, and a significant portion of immigrants work in janitorial and cleaning service, and are putting their lives at risk every day to protect others from the virus. 

Immigrant communities are struggling, as we all are, to not only protect their own families, but to keep everyone safe, fed, and able to fight the spread of the virus. As my colleagues and I work day and night to fight COVID-19, we need our elected officials to have our back by ensuring we have a comprehensive plan that includes every person in our communities. Going forward, Congress must prioritize the needs and health of all families – regardless of immigration status. This virus doesn’t discriminate based on immigration status or national origin, and to effectively treat and address it, neither can we.