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Immigration Enforcement and Infant Health

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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. 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.

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    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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