Fearful NY migrants are skipping doctors' visits and food help, advocates say

"Representatives of local community aid organizations testified at a City Council hearing on Tuesday that immigrant New Yorkers are forgoing doctors' appointments, failing to report domestic violence, and doing without public benefits such as food stamps out of fear of immigration enforcement. What the advocates described as the chilling effects of President Donald Trump's renewed immigration crackdown is reshaping daily life for thousands of immigrant families, creating a mental health crisis as people avoid accessing critical services that could keep them safe and healthy."

" Under Trump 2.0, we are seeing increased isolation again, this time with immigrants fearing completing daily tasks due to the potential for ICE enforcement," said Rachel Goldsmith, the Legal Aid Society's director of social work."

"The hearing centered on the mental health needs of immigrant New Yorkers, which advocates said have multiplied with a surge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests since Trump returned to office on Jan. 20. The Arab American Family Support Center has seen an 80% surge in requests for mental health assistance in recent months, one staffer testified. Over 3,300 immigrants have been arrested since Jan. 20, a 56% increase over the same period last year, according to a Gothamist analysis."

Immigration enforcement fears are causing immigrant New Yorkers to avoid doctors' appointments, refrain from reporting domestic violence, and forgo public benefits like food stamps. Those chilling effects are reshaping daily life for thousands of immigrant families and creating a mounting mental health crisis as people avoid critical services. Social workers report renewed isolation under heightened enforcement. Advocates say mental health needs have multiplied alongside a surge in ICE arrests since Jan. 20, with some centers seeing an 80% jump in requests. City officials urge families to continue using schools, medical care, 911, and other resources and promote that message through outreach.

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