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Migration-Related Trauma Among Asylum Seekers Exposed to the Migrant Protection Protocols
Kyle Joyner1, Elizabeth Burner1, Sarah Axeen1
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
JAMA Network Open
|January 6, 2026
Summary
The Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) policy was linked to increased trauma and PTSD in asylum seekers. This highlights potential adverse health outcomes for migrants and implications for public health.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Immigration Policy
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- The Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), implemented in January 2019, altered US asylum procedures by requiring asylum seekers to await proceedings in Mexico.
- Understanding the association between MPP and trauma is crucial for informing immigration and health policies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between exposure to the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) and trauma experienced during migration.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study analyzed forensic medical evaluations of 94 asylum seekers from 2016 to 2022 in the US and Mexico.
- Participants were categorized into three groups: pre-2019, MPP-exposed (2019-2022), and non-MPP-exposed (2019-2022).
- Logistic regression assessed differences in reported trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with qualitative narratives providing context.
Main Results:
- Asylum seekers exposed to MPP reported significantly higher rates of traumatic migration events (64%) compared to the pre-2019 group (12%).
- The odds of reporting trauma were 9.20 times higher for those exposed to MPP.
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was diagnosed in 95% of the MPP group versus 42% of the pre-2019 group.
Conclusions:
- Exposure to the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) was associated with elevated rates of trauma during migration among asylum seekers.
- These findings suggest that MPP may contribute to adverse health outcomes for asylum seekers.
- The study underscores potential downstream implications for US public health and security.
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