6 in 10 Immigrants in the U.S. Feel Anxious or Afraid About Future in the Country Amid Current Political Climate: Survey

A new national survey reveals that six in ten immigrants in the U.S. (61%) report feeling anxious or afraid about their future in the country, citing the political environment and ongoing immigration enforcement as primary drivers.

The concerns are not limited to undocumented individuals as fear is rising even among naturalized citizens and lawfully present immigrants.

According to the 2024 KFF Survey of Immigrants, 41% of all immigrant respondents worry that they or a family member could be detained or deported, an increase of 15 percentage points from the 2023 survey. Among lawfully present immigrants, that figure rises to 60%, and about one-quarter of naturalized citizens report similar concerns.

According to the report, these fears are having tangible effects: a third of immigrants say their health or well-being has declined due to immigration-related anxiety, with symptoms such as stress, sleeplessness, or difficulty eating. That number jumps to 41% among lawfully present immigrants.

The sense of insecurity has also affected daily behavior. 13% of all immigrants, and 20% of lawfully present immigrants, say they or a family member have avoided routine activities such as going to work, attending community events, or seeking medical care due to fears of drawing attention to immigration status. About a third of immigrants say they’ve heard or seen reports of ICE activity in their communities, and many remain uncertain whether enforcement can take place in historically protected spaces like hospitals or schools.

Recent news illustrates the fear inside the immigrant community across the country In California, a report published on Wednesday by the Fast Food Workers Union and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights shows that fear of immigration consequences deters many immigrant workers from reporting labor violations, as more than 80% of those concerned about their status said they were unlikely to file complaints.

Nearly two-thirds weren’t even aware they had the legal right to do report violations regardless of immigration status. Workers described employer threats involving ICE and job loss, illustrating the overlap between workplace abuse and immigration insecurity.

Another report, this one from The New York Times, revealed on Thursday that fear also extends into healthcare access, as testimonies from social workers and medical professionals across states show that some immigrants are avoiding hospitals and emergency rooms for fear of being detained.

Physicians warn that avoiding care could lead to dire consequences across the board:

“If the trend continues, health care officials say, the list of consequences could be long: Infectious diseases circulating unnecessarily; worsening health care costs because of untreated chronic illnesses; and dangerous birth complications for women who wait too long to seek help, among others”