The Migrant Health Crisis No One Is Talking About

What’s happening: Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and polio are proven to be coming across the border. As migrants from less-developed countries are dispersed across the country, sickness follows.

Tuberculosis spike: The highly contagious and often deadly respiratory infection is on the rise, with migrants accounting for 71 percent of U.S. cases in 2021. New York City’s large undocumented population accounts for 88 percent locally.

• Stronger diseases: Doctors argue that the open border leads to more drug-resistant infections such as measles in the U.S. because over-the-counter antibiotics dispensed in Mexico do not adequately treat patients.

Migrant healthcare: Enrollment in taxpayer-funded health insurance programs for migrants, regardless of status, is expected to double by 2025 alongside the increase in infectious diseases.

• Price tag: California expanded free comprehensive health insurance to include all illegal migrants, costing taxpayers $6.5 billion annually.

Why it matters: The growing public health problem is an often-ignored consequence of the border crisis under President Joe Biden. Treatments for some incoming diseases exist, but novel or untreatable infections worldwide increase the danger of an open border.

• Inconsistency: Migrants who lawfully apply for entry are screened for infectious diseases, while undocumented migrants are not. During the COVID-19 pandemic, almost 20 percent of migrants who entered illegally were released after testing positive while officials forced lawful residents to follow pandemic restrictions.