More California Immigrants Avoiding Public Programs, UCLA Study Finds – Patch

More California Immigrants Avoiding Public Programs, UCLA Study Finds  Patch

"The issue isn't the programs themselves. It's the fear that using them could jeopardize future immigration opportunities." LOS ANGELES, CA — More than 1 in 7 low-income immigrant adults in California avoided public programs in the past year because of concerns that participation could affect their or a family member's immigration status, according to a UCLA Center for Health Policy Research study released Thursday. The study, based on 2025 California Health Interview Survey data, found that 15% of immigrant adults with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level avoided programs such as Medi-Cal or CalFresh, up from 11% in 2024. For a family of four, 200% of the federal poverty level was $64,300 in 2025, according to the center.

"The issue isn't the programs themselves. It's the fear that using them could jeopardize future immigration opportunities," said Joelle Wolstein, a UCLA Center for Health Policy Research research scientist. Low-income immigrants who avoided public programs were more likely than those who did not to delay needed medical care, 26% to 12%, and delay filling prescriptions, 20% to 8%, according to the study. Researchers said 60% of those who avoided programs experienced food insecurity, compared with 38% of those who did not. About half, 51%, experienced housing insecurity, compared with 33% of those who did not avoid programs. The housing data