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COVID-19

Pandemic-Related Excess Mortality Reveals Failures in Public Health and Immigration Policy in California

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A new study by the University of California, Santa Cruz, revealed alarming disparities in COVID-19 mortality rates among immigrant groups in California, with potentially undocumented immigrants experiencing a 55% increase in death rates above pre-pandemic levels. The study found that Latino essential workers who were potentially undocumented were the hardest hit subgroup, experiencing a 91% increase in deaths over pre-pandemic levels. The findings highlight the need for public health policies that address the unique challenges faced by immigrant communities, including limited access to healthcare and social safety net programs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Potentially undocumented immigrants in California experienced a 55% increase in death rates above pre-pandemic levels, compared to a 22% increase among documented immigrants and a 12% increase among U.S.-born citizens.
  • Latino essential workers who were potentially undocumented were the hardest hit subgroup, experiencing a 91% increase in deaths over pre-pandemic levels.
  • The study found a clear gradient in pandemic survival outcomes within sociodemographic subgroups, with potentially undocumented immigrants generally having the worst outcomes, documented immigrants surviving at higher rates, and U.S.-born people having the best outcomes.
  • Undocumented immigrants were more likely to work in jobs with heightened risk of COVID-19 exposure, and they lacked access to benefits like paid sick leave, public medical insurance, and unemployment insurance.
  • The stress undocumented immigrants experience from the threat of arrest, detention, and deportation affects their immune systems, putting them at greater risk of severe disease from infections like COVID-19.
  • The study suggests that expanding Medicaid access to undocumented immigrants could potentially help reduce the death toll of a similar future pandemic.
  • The new Trump Administration policies, like increasingly aggressive immigration enforcement tactics and the removal of prohibitions against immigration enforcement in healthcare settings, could actually worsen the next public health crisis.

Statistics:

  • 55% increase in death rates above pre-pandemic levels among potentially undocumented immigrants in California.
  • 22% increase in death rates among documented immigrants in California.
  • 12% increase in death rates among U.S.-born citizens in California.
  • 91% increase in deaths over pre-pandemic levels among Latino essential workers who were potentially undocumented.
  • Estimated 55% increase in mortality among potentially undocumented immigrants between March 2020 and May 2023.
  • 8% increase in death rate among white U.S.-born citizens in California.

Sources:

  • Allison Arteaga Soergel, "Study uncovers disproportionate COVID-19 death toll among undocumented immigrants", July 24, 2025.
  • University of California - Santa Cruz, "Study finds COVID-19 deaths disproportionately affected undocumented immigrants in California", July 24, 2025.
  • Alicia Riley et al., "Excess Mortality Among Immigrants in California During the COVID-19 Pandemic", forthcoming.

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