Migrant medical costs

In the United States, health care can be difficult to afford. But for the thousands of migrants currently showing up at the U.S.-Mexico border, it’s nearly impossible.

In recent months, the number of migrants entering the United States has increased significantly. In March alone, U.S. Customs and Border Protection saw nearly 92,000 apprehensions at the southern border, an almost 150% increase since March 2018.

Migrants often arrive with critical health issues that have strained the agencies overseeing them. According to CBP, Border Patrol sends an average of 63 people to receive further medical treatment every day.

But what happens when those receiving health care can’t pay for it? Under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act of 1986, anyone who needs access to health care must receive it, regardless of their ability to pay.