ER visits by foreign-born patients fall sharply after increased ICE raids in Los Angeles

A new study of three Los Angeles emergency rooms found that visits by people born outside the United States dropped sharply after a rise in ICE immigration raids last year.

The researchers linked the timing of the raids to a precipitous decline in emergency department utilization among foreign‑born patients, suggesting that fear of detention may deter people from seeking urgent care.

The findings highlight how immigration enforcement can have unintended public‑health consequences, potentially leaving vulnerable populations without timely medical attention.