Migration-Related Trauma Among Asylum Seekers Exposed to the Migrant Protection Protocols

Was exposure to the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP; the “Remain in Mexico” policy) associated with higher rates of trauma during migration among asylum seekers?In this cohort study of 94 asylum seekers evaluated between 2016 and 2022, 14 of 22 participants (64%) in the MPP group reported trauma during migration compared with 3 of 26 (12%) in the pre-2019 group. This result was statistically significant.These findings suggest that restrictive border policies may have unintended consequences on migrant health, with downstream implications for US public health and security.

Corresponding Author: Kyle Joyner, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1200 N State St, GNH 1060K, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (kyle.joyner@med.usc.edu).

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