About Half of Immigrant Parents Struggle to Make Ends Meet — and Have Increased Health Issues — Since Trump Took Office

Until the recent and highly publicized crackdown by ICE in communities from Chicago to Minneapolis, immigration policy could feel like something intangible, argued over in courtrooms and on social media shares. But for many families, it has long shown up much closer to home. They experience the effects of immigration policy inside the doctor’s office, in the grocery store checkout line, and in the quiet worries kids carry to school.

A new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) in partnership with The New York Times, released today, took a closer look at what immigrant parents and their children have been experiencing during the second Trump administration. The findings point to rising financial strain, increased stress tied to immigration enforcement, and growing barriers to health care, even the case for families with U.S.-born kids.

How Immigrant Families Are Being Affected

The KFF survey, which was conducted in the fall of 2025 — before the current ICE ramp-up, so it can reasonably be surmised that the effects would be felt even more severely now — found that immigrant parents were experiencing the following strains:

Economic hardship: More than half of immigrant parents (52%) say it’s become harder to make ends meet since January 2025. About 55% say they’ve had trouble paying for basics like health care, housing, or food in the past year. These struggles have increased since previous years. 

Fear and stress tied to immigration enforcement: A significant share of parents (and their children) are living with anxiety over immigration status. About 27% of immigrant parents report that their children have expressed fear of something bad happening to their families because they are immigrants, and these worries are much more common (60%) among likely undocumented parents. 

Negative health impacts: Nearly half (47%) of immigrant parents say that immigration-related worries have hurt their health. It has caused stress, anxiety, trouble sleeping or eating, or worsening chronic conditions. About 18% say their children’s well-being has also been affected, which has shown in changes in school performance or behavior. 

Lack of health coverage: Immigrant parents are twice as likely to be uninsured as adults without children at home (22% vs. 11%). About 15% report having a child without insurance. This number rises to about 27% among likely undocumented parents and to roughly one in five among parents with lower income or limited English proficiency. 

Missed or delayed care: Thirty percent of immigrant parents say that their children missed, delayed, or skipped care in the past year. The reasons span from fears of immigration enforcement, cost, lack of insurance, or difficulty finding services at a convenient time or place. 

These findings show that immigrant families’ struggles extend beyond legal status. Economic vulnerability, fear, and shifting policy environments are affecting health and access to care for parents and children alike.

Changes in Policy

To understand why stress levels are rising, it helps to look at what’s changed. The Trump administration rolled back long-standing protections that had limited immigration enforcement in “sensitive locations” like hospitals and clinics. Health providers have warned that increased ICE presence in medical settings is making some immigrant families afraid to seek care, according to the analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).

At the same time, new federal policy changes are tightening access to programs like Medicaid and CHIP for some immigrant families. KFF policy tracking shows that shifts to eligibility rules and renewed worries about whether using benefits could count against them are expected to reduce coverage and discourage enrollment. This is even the case among families who technically qualify. Researchers have long documented this “chilling effect,” where fear of immigration consequences leads families, including those with U.S.-born children, to avoid health services or public benefits.

In other words, access to care isn’t just about whether someone qualifies on paper. It’s about whether they feel safe enough to walk into a clinic in the first place. 

How Allies Can Support Immigrant Families

If you want to be an ally to immigrant families facing health care barriers and stress:

1. Share accurate information about rights and services.
Many immigrant families avoid benefits like Medicaid or health coverage because they think it will hurt their immigration status — even when it won’t. Community organizations, legal clinics, and immigrant advocacy groups often provide trustworthy guidance.

2. Support local clinics and community health centers.
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and community clinics offer care regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. Volunteering, donating, or helping people learn about these resources can make care accessible.

3. Advocate for policy changes that protect immigrant health.
This can include writing to elected officials, supporting policies that limit enforcement at sensitive places like health care settings (a principle sometimes called “safe zones”), and opposing cuts to health coverage programs.

4. Create welcoming spaces in your own community.
Small actions (from ensuring your local hospital or doctor’s office provides language access services to supporting culturally responsive care) can reduce barriers that immigrant families face.

Resources for Immigrants Navigating These Challenges

If you are an immigrant or support someone who is, these resources can help:

Local community health centers or FQHCs: These organizations provide medical, dental, and mental health care on a sliding scale, regardless of insurance or immigration status.

Health insurance navigators: Many nonprofits and health departments have trained staff who can explain coverage options and help with enrollment for those eligible.

Legal aid organizations: Immigration law is complex, and trusted legal help can clarify how public benefits interact with immigration status.

Hotlines and support networks: Many states and cities offer culturally specific hotlines in multiple languages where families can ask questions about health care, benefits, and their rights.

The health and well-being of immigrant parents and their children are deeply affected by economic pressures, fear of enforcement, and barriers to coverage and care. But with the right information, community support, and advocacy, families can find ways to access services and protect their health.