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Immigration Enforcement and Infant Health

Author

Listed:
  • Catalina Amuedo-Dorantes
  • Brandyn Churchill
  • Yang Song

Abstract

The past two decades were characterized by an unprecedented increase in interior immigration enforcement and heightened stress due to fears of family separation and loss of income among undocumented immigrants. Using vital statistics on infant births from the National Center for Health Statistics for the 2003 through 2016 period and a difference-in-differences design, we compare the health outcomes of infants with likely undocumented mothers before and after the intensification of immigration enforcement within US counties. We find that intensified enforcement, especially during the third trimester, increases the likelihood of low birth weight (<2,500 grams). We also present suggestive evidence that the effect could be driven by heightened stress and fears associated with police-based enforcement during pregnancy. The findings underscore the importance of current immigration policies in shaping the birth outcomes of many American children.

Suggested Citation

  • Catalina Amuedo-Dorantes & Brandyn Churchill & Yang Song, 2022. "Immigration Enforcement and Infant Health," American Journal of Health Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 8(3), pages 323-358.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:amjhec:doi:10.1086/718510
    DOI: 10.1086/718510
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    Cited by:

    1. Hoa Vu, 2024. "I wish I were born in another time: Unintended consequences of immigration enforcement on birth outcomes," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 345-362, February.
    2. Bruzelius, Emilie & Prins, Seth J. & Bates, Lisa M. & Underhill, Kristen & Jarlenski, Marian & Martins, Silvia S., 2025. "Prenatal drug use criminalization and health system avoidance: Evidence from births in Alabama, South Carolina, and Tennessee, 1989–2019," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 387(C).
    3. Timilsina, Laxman, 2023. "Immigration policy shocks and infant health," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    4. Brandyn Churchill, 2021. "E‐Verify mandates and unauthorized immigrants' health insurance coverage," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 88(2), pages 487-526, October.
    5. Cynthia Bansak & Sarah Pearlman & Chad Sparber, 2025. "The impact of Secure Communities on the labor market outcomes of immigrant women," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(3), pages 917-942, June.
    6. Luo, Tianyuan & Kostandini, Genti & Liu, Yanjun & Nie, Peng, 2026. "Deportation enforcement, mental health, and health risk behaviors of hispanic adolescents," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 388(C).
    7. Ybarra, Marci & Hong, Youngjin Stephanie & García, Angela S., 2025. "Deportation threat and infant birthweight in California, 2003–2012: The role of place and immigrant mothers’ legal status," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    8. Herring, Jordan & Barnow, Burt, 2025. "Indirect effects of immigration enforcement on health care utilization among lawfully present older Hispanics," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 384(C).
    9. Cortina Toro,Magdalena & Jimenez,Juan Miguel & Rozo Villarraga,Sandra Viviana, 2024. "Little Nomads : Economic and Social Impacts of Migration on Children," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10686, The World Bank.
    10. Chan, Jeff, 2024. "Changing the pace of the melting pot: The effects of immigration restrictions on immigrant assimilation," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(4), pages 733-754.
    11. Juan Manuel Pedroza & Elena Losada, 2025. "It’s About Time: Parent’s Direct Care for Children in Hispanic Noncitizen Households Across State Immigration Policy Contexts," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 44(1), pages 1-28, February.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • K37 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Immigration Law

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