Pediatricians raise the alarm on the effect of Trump's immigration crackdown on kids

MARYLAND — On a hot summer day earlier this year, a mother left a troubling voice message on this reporter's WhatsApp. "My child woke up this morning feeling like he was suffocating. I am worried," she said in Spanish. The boy had a history of asthma, she added.

The woman asked to be referred to by her first initial, M, because although her son is a U.S. citizen, she and her husband are undocumented. In response to being told she should seek professional medical help, M said she had been debating whether to take him to the local clinic, worried that she could be detained by immigration enforcement.

It's a troubling pattern that has emerged in immigrant communities: staying away from medical care due to fear.

"All the roads northbound have had ICE operations on them," she said in another voice message. She was worried about getting detained.

M's situation is increasingly common. A new national survey , conducted between April and June 2026 by the American Academy of Pediatrics, found that 40% of pediatricians have noticed families staying away from care due to immigration concerns. Thirty percent said they've seen families who are hesitant to apply for public health services and support, such as Medicaid. They also noted that there are families in their practice who are avoiding sending their children to school.

Dr. Lee Beers, the academy's chief medical officer, says keeping children away from school has health implications. "They can receive health services within the school. They can receive mental health services. It's a place where caring and supportive adults can help identify if there's an emerging health issue or mental health issue."

Back in southern Maryland, the boy was taking a turn for the worse. M recalled how pale he was. "His lips were turning blue."

They took the bus to the local clinic. It was nighttime, and when they got there, the doctor told her the child was in serious condition. He was given oxygen.