At CommunityHealth clinic in Chicago, nurse practitioner Margaret Bavis notes a significant shift in patient behavior since Trump's presidency, particularly among immigrants. Fearing ICE raids, many patients are avoiding essential medical appointments, which can have severe health consequences. One patient expressed deep fear of potential separation from her family if they were caught in a raid. Dr. Jose Figueroa from Harvard highlights the tough decisions immigrants must make, prioritizing their residency over immediate health concerns, a situation exacerbated by the winter flu season affecting their communities.
"Right now, I just am so afraid. I can't go anywhere," a patient told Bavis, highlighting the severe anxiety immigrants face in accessing healthcare.
Bavis expressed that it’s been "heartbreaking to hear that kind of despair. I think we're just only at the very beginning of what's going to be a really horrible time for our patients."
Dr. Figueroa emphasized the difficult choices immigrants are making: "For many, many immigrants who are prioritizing a future in this country above their own health, it’s a risk."
Figueroa noted the significance of the flu season, stating, "It is one of the most difficult choices that people are making during this time when viral infections are spreading in the community."
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