Immigration Update: Covid-19 Compounds ‘The Chilling Effect’
The anti-immigrant policies put in place by the federal administration has created an increased atmosphere of fear in our immigrant communities. This fear is referred to as the ‘chilling effect’ and it has discouraged many immigrants and their family members from enrolling into lifesaving services, such as Medi-Cal, out of fear that their immigration status, or that of a family member, will be affected. These fears have been further exacerbated by the public charge rule, and now the COVID – 19 pandemic. In response CPCA has expanded its materials and resources to include elements of COVID -19.
In addition to the chilling effect, we have also seen an increase in behavioral health issues, such as anxiety and depression, within our immigrant communities; in particular Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. As folks may remember, in 2017 the Trump Administration abruptly ended the DACA program. However, through litigation efforts, we were successful in being able to partially reinstate the program to allow DACA recipients to continue renewing their work authorization and by default, their status in the program.
On June 18, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of continuing the DACA program. The court said the Department of Homeland Security acted arbitrarily and capriciously in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act when it ordered the end of the program in 2017. Although this is a favorable ruling, this does indicate that the Trump administration can again try to dismantle the DACA program in a legally sound way, but we hope such a step will not be taken.
Immigration Resource Page – COVID 19
CPCA has added a new COVID-19 tab to its Immigration Resource Page with information and resources for both service provider and patients. The information is updated weekly and links to resources produced by our immigrant partners, the state, and CPCA.
Under the COVID-19 tab you can find information on:
COVID-19 Disaster Relief for immigrants
Talking points and FAQs to help service providers respond to questions
CA State Immigrant Guide
Information on how to access COVID-19 testing and treatment
COVID – 19 printable handouts and posters for CHCs
KYR information around healthcare
Service Provider Training Modules – COVID 19
In an effort to help frontline staff, enrollers, CHWs / Promotoras, service providers, county staff and others respond to concerns presented by immigrant communities, the Protecting Access to Public Benefits Workgroup, led by CPCA, has created Public Charge Training Modules for Advocates & Service Providers. This is a package of train-the-trainer style presentations to help service providers and CBOs discuss public charge with patients and the community. Each module includes a script to help guide presenters. All together the modules comprise a full-day workshop, but organizations are encouraged to build a unique agenda that best suits their audience from the menu of modules.
CPCA has worked with its partners through the Outreach and Communications Workgroup under CA-Protecting Immigrant Families to include information regarding COVID -19 testing and treatment into the Service Provider Modules. You can find the updated modules themselves and more details about these modules in CPCA’s Immigration Resource page.
To help elevate the updated training materials, CPCA partnered with Senator Lena Gonzalez and the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition to host our first virtual training of the year during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a huge success! We had 137 attendees and an average evaluation score of 4.7 out of 5.
Special Populations FAQs – CPCA COVID 19 FAQs
At the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic, CPCA pivoted its work to ensure health centers and their patients had the information they needed to understand the resources available due to the pandemic. In support of our immigrant communities, we created a section within the FAQs focused on special populations, which include immigrants. We encourage folks to take a look if there are questions regarding accessing COVID-19 resources as an immigrant as well as any relief offered within the COVID stimulus bills. You can find these questions on CPCA’s website.
National Health Center Immigration Workgroup (NHCIW) and Immigration Peer Network
CPCA has also created the NHCIW in partnership with AAPCHO and NACHC to help mobilize health centers across the nation to oppose the harmful policies attaching immigrants. This workgroup has over 330 members and meets monthly. During our meetings we provide updates on moving policies, information on opportunities to submit comments and increase their advocacy efforts, and allow for peer to peer learning.
The last few meetings have been focused on elements of COVID-19 and have had partners come and present on these nuances, including the National Immigration Law Center who participates in these calls monthly to provide a policy and legal update. To join these calls please register HERE.
In addition to NHCIW, CPCA also coordinates the Immigration Peer Network where members help provide CPCA guidance on our immigration efforts. These calls help inform CPCA staff of the needs that CHCs and patients are facing and together develop a response be it more trainings or development of resources.