As immigration enforcement increased in L.A., foreign-born patients made fewer ER visits
Emergency room visits among people born outside the United States declined sharply at Los Angeles County safety-net hospitals after immigration enforcement intensified in the region last year, according to new USC research.
A USC study reveals that heightened immigration enforcement in Los Angeles County led to fewer emergency room visits from foreign-born patients at three safety-net hospitals. Despite making fewer ER visits, these patients were more likely to be hospitalized, indicating that immigration enforcement may discourage them from seeking acute care when needed.
The research, published in JAMA Network Open on October 5, suggests that this could result in more serious health conditions and increased costs for both patients and the healthcare system. Researchers analyzed self-reported country of birth data from 12 months prior to June 2025 and the subsequent four months, noting a 20% decrease in emergency visits for foreign-born patients compared to U.S.-born patients, with the gap narrowing to 10% by October.
Admissions rose 2.5-5.1 percentage points among patients born in Mexico, Central or South America, or Asia.
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