COVID-19, a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, has impacted the lives of millions in the United States. Although preventative measures and resources such as social distancing, increased testing sites and relief programs have been enacted, immigrant communities are still disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
There are currently 46.7 million immigrants who reside in the United States, while 11 million are undocumented.4 States with the highest total confirmed COVID-19 cases include California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, and Texas (Figure 1). According to the Migration Policy Institute, out of those states listed, California, Florida, Texas and Illinois have the highest immigrant populations as of 2018.7 Consequently, during this pandemic, the inequalities and social determinants immigrant communities endure everyday increases their risk of COVID-19.
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