Journal article
Public Benefit Avoidance And Safety Concerns Among Mixed-Status Latino Families In California, 2021-22
Health affairs (Millwood, Va.), v 44(10)
Oct 2025
PMID: 41052391
Abstract
Many Latino immigrants avoid public benefits because of fears about their immigration status or that of family members, which is heightened by anti-immigration rhetoric. This study used data from the Latino Youth Health Study and the 2021-22 California Health Interview Survey to examine decisions not to apply for noncash public benefits, such as Medicaid, food assistance, and housing subsidies, as well as safety perceptions among income-eligible Latino families in California. We also analyzed differences by parental citizenship and household language. Compared to families with two US citizen parents, families with one or both noncitizen parents were more likely (by 38.4 and 46.7 percentage points, respectively) to avoid applying for benefits because of immigration-related concerns, and such families were also more likely to fear deportation for themselves or a family member or close friend. Spanish-only and bilingual households showed similar patterns. These findings underscore the need for accurate information on public benefit eligibility and immigration policies to ensure that immigrant families can access health care and resources to which they are legally entitled.
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Details
- Title
- Public Benefit Avoidance And Safety Concerns Among Mixed-Status Latino Families In California, 2021-22
- Creators
- Clara B Barajas - University of Hawaiʻi at MānoaMaria-Elena De Trinidad Young - University of California, MercedArturo Vargas Bustamante - University of California, Los AngelesBrent A Langellier - Drexel UniversityDylan H Roby - University of California, IrvineJim P Stimpson - Jim P. Stimpson, University of Texas, Dallas, TexasNinez A Ponce - Ninez A. Ponce, UCLAKathryn Kietzman - Kathryn Kietzman, UCLAJan M Eberth - Drexel UniversityMark Stehr - Drexel UniversityAlexander N Ortega - University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
- Publication Details
- Health affairs (Millwood, Va.), v 44(10)
- Publisher
- Health Affairs
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health: R01 MD01 4146, R01MD018727
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health (Award Nos. R01 MD01 4146 and R01MD018727). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Clara Barajas completed this research study in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy at Drexel University.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Economics (School of Economics); Urban Health Collaborative; Dana and David Dornsife School of Public Health; Health Management and Policy; Center for Public Policy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001592208700012
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105017943017
- Other Identifier
- 991022121059204721
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Health Care Sciences & Services
- Health Policy & Services