The health-related experiences of detained immigrants with and without mental illness

IF 3.9 Q1 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Journal of Migration and Health Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI:10.1016/j.jmh.2025.100302

Caitlin Patler , Altaf Saadi , Paola Langer

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Abstract

Background

Incarcerated individuals with mental illness face unique health challenges, yet we know little about individuals with mental illness who are detained by US immigration authorities. We aimed to describe the health-related experiences of detained immigrants with and without mental illness.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey in 2021 with a sample of recently detained immigrants who were detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and released in the United States in 2020–2021 (n = 203). We used multivariable regression to assess the association between mental illness and the incidence of five outcomes while in immigration detention: 1) poor general health, 2) difficulty accessing medical services, 3) difficulty accessing mental health services, 4) interruptions to care, 5) and exposure to solitary confinement.

Results

115/203 participants (56.7 %) had diagnosed mental illness, most commonly depression and PTSD. Rates of poor health, difficulty accessing medical and mental health services, interruptions to care, and exposure to solitary confinement during detention were high overall, and significantly higher among individuals with mental illness.