Fearing Deportation, Some Immigrants Opt Out Of Health Benefits For Their Kids
“The fear of family separation is not new for many immigrants already living in the U.S. In fact, that fear, heightened in recent weeks, has been forcing a tough decision for some families. Advocates say a growing number of American children are dropping out of Medicaid and other government programs because their parents are undocumented. Marlene is an undocumented resident of Texas and has two children who are U.S. citizens. (NPR is not using Marlene’s last name because of her immigration status.) One of her kids has some disabilities.”