ICE Raids Reduced Immigrant Medical Care Access

A USC study found emergency room visits by foreign-born residents in Los Angeles dropped significantly after June 2025.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Immigration

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a simplified concrete building facade silhouette against a dark sky, evoking strained healthcare access. — A USC study found that emergency room visits by foreign-born residents in Los Angeles dropped by 20% following intensified immigration enforcement in June 2025. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should local enforcement operations account for potential impacts on public health access in your community?

New USC research shows that emergency room visits by foreign-born patients in Los Angeles fell by over 20% in the four weeks following June 5, 2025. While visit volume decreased, those who did seek care were significantly more likely to require hospitalization.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that intensified enforcement operations created a barrier to healthcare access, as foreign-born residents avoided facilities due to fears of arrest. This dynamic resulted in delayed medical treatment, leading to higher admission rates for patients who finally sought help.

Emergency room visits for foreign-born patients dropped more than 20% following the June 5, 2025 start of enforcement, while admission rates for Mexican-born, Central/South American, and Asian-born patients rose by 4.8%, 5.1%, and 2.5% respectively.

The players

USC

This private research university conducted the study on healthcare utilization patterns among immigrant populations.

St. John's Community Health

This healthcare provider experienced a spike in appointment no-show rates and initiated the Healthcare Without Fear program.

The details

Researchers analyzed data from Los Angeles General, Harbor-UCLA, and Olive View-UCLA Medical Centers to track changes in patient volume and severity. The study also highlighted that non-English speaking patient visits at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital fell 16% between June and August 2025.

ICE enforcement operations escalated in Los Angeles on June 5, 2025.
ER visits at Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital declined from June to August 2025.
Immigrant patient ER visits remained 10% below pre-enforcement levels in October 2025.

Political Context

Opponents of increased immigration enforcement have argued that these tactics disrupt essential community infrastructure and public health. They contend that policies focusing on interior enforcement undermine the protective provisions of the 2011 ICE Sensitive Locations Memo.

The study indicates that fear of enforcement can lead to delayed medical care, which may increase the likelihood of emergency hospitalization when treatment is finally sought. Residents facing health concerns must navigate these potential barriers to ensure timely access to necessary safety-net services.

The takeaway

The data underscores a significant public health consequence of immigration enforcement that manifests as reduced clinic usage and higher hospital admission severity. Healthcare providers are now considering remote and home-based visit alternatives to help re-establish a sense of safety for the community.

What happens next

Management at St. John's Community Health is currently evaluating whether to restart the Healthcare Without Fear program in response to the documented findings.