Recent Exclusionary Immigration Policy Experiences are Associated with Worse Asian and Latino Immigrant Health

This study examined Asian and Latino immigrants' recent exclusionary experiences with immigration policy, such as knowing someone deported, being racially profiled, or being denied health insurance, and their relationship with health care access and health status. The 2018-2020 Research on Immigrant Health and State Policy survey asked adult Asian and Latino immigrants (N = 2,010, Asian n = 1,004, Latino n = 1,006) if they had experienced any of sixteen immigration policy exclusions ever and in the last 12 months. Regression models tested relationships between the number of exclusionary experiences and mental and physical health outcomes for all respondents and only respondents with any lifetime exclusionary experience. Each additional recent exclusionary experience was associated with 40% higher odds of delaying care, 21% lower odds of better self-rated health, and 24% higher odds of mental illness. Results held when limiting the sample to only respondents with any lifetime exclusionary experience. Recent exclusionary experiences with immigration policy likely have immediate consequences for health care access and health status. Findings underscore the need for early intervention to reduce the impact of immigration policy exclusions.