Hidden barriers: The impact of immigration enforcement on patients, learners and clinicians
Immigration enforcement policies increasingly shape access to care, with ripple effects on patient outcomes, clinician well-being, and the learning environment. This session explores how fear of enforcement delays care-seeking, leading to more advanced illness, higher-cost emergency care, and worse long-term health outcomes. It also highlights an often-overlooked group—learners from immigrant backgrounds—whose training and well-being are directly affected by these policies.
In this talk, Christina Low Kapalu, Ph.D., will moderate a discussion with Aoi Nathalia Mizushima, M.D., and Eva Galvez, M.D., examining the parallel impacts on patients, clinicians, and learners, including moral injury and ethical strain in clinical practice. The session will provide practical strategies for creating safer clinical environments, supporting vulnerable populations, and engaging in advocacy. Attendees will leave with actionable approaches to mitigate harm, strengthen trust, and improve health outcomes across communities.