Margaret Pavis's nurse practitioner has not been used for her “rock rocks” who does not appear in society, a free medical center in Chicago, most of whom treat Spanish and Polish speakers.
But about two weeks ago, when Republican President Donald Trump was sworn in amid a promise to deport millions of people in the United States without legal status, some Pavis began to overcome their dates.
In the days after this, the United States of Immigration and Customs, or ICE, appeared with a high -level appearance in Chicago but issued limited information about the people who detained them.
Many patients have continued to stay away from Communityhealth, where almost all patients are not insured. CEO Steve Wilding said that many employees are also immigrant societies, not only witnessing the shock of their patients but they feel at home.
Healthcare providers say, even for a short period of care, can have serious medical effects.
Pavis said that many of its patients need help in managing high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions, and diseases that can restore a person for several months if left without treatment. Bavis saw this during the Covid-19s, when people moved away from hospitals and clinics to provide a space for serious diseases, but then they became more sick than delaying medical care.
The health center was a great accumulation of people who missed preventive cancer shows during Covid – the album's folds, X -ray breast imaging, colonoscopy – and when people returned, some of them were diagnosed with cancer at a later stage, Wilding said.
Bavis called for a long time ago to work in the laboratory recently after overcoming her date in the previous week, and for fear of fear, she can be arrested in raids and separated from her family. Remember the patient in crying. Pavis said she felt a little guilty, hoping that she could do more to relieve her patient anxiety.
“Now, I am just afraid. I remembered the patient, saying,” I can't go anywhere. “
“It is heartbreaking to hear this kind of despair. I think we are only at the beginning of what will be a terrible time for our patients,” Pavis said.
Steve Wilding, CEO of Communityhealth, offers a picture on February 4, 2025. The free health center in Chicago is largely serving migrant societies.
Chopping effect
Communityhealth treats more than 4000 people per year, with about 50 employees and 1,000 volunteers who help in caring for patients. Like many hospitals and health centers, Communityhealth does not require a person's legal status.
However, in the first two weeks after Trump took office, nearly 30 % of patients did not attend or cancel the initial care, specialized dates, or laboratory tests without scheduling, and translated into more than 300 lost visits.
She described its calmness on Wednesday, when the main clinic in society throughout the western city is on the western side full of patients. This was a few days after Trump's opening and people were preparing to deport.
“It was very surrealist and reminded me of what I felt on the site during the epidemic,” Wilding said. “Several times, I entered the clinic and was silent, no noise, and when I reviewed in the waiting room, we had no patients in our waiting room.”
WBEZ has found that every clinic or hospital has the same Communityhealth experience or tracking the number of patients who do not appear for dates. Some medical facilities slide another patient to an opening when someone does not come.
Many clinics, including Communityhealth, have turned into virtual visits at the request of patients who do not want to leave their homes. But this is not a long -term solution. Some medical needs cannot be handled via a phone or computer, such as obtaining a vaccine.
Communityhealth health workers work on the western side of Chicago at the background clinic on February 4, 2025. The health center provides free medical care and is largely treated by migrant communities.
There are other signs on the proud effect of the Trump administration deportation plans. During a final visit at Communityhealth, Rafefin was mobilized in the pharmacy with small brown bags full of medical prescriptions that have not been taken for about 10 days. Patients have not yet obtained insulin to treat diabetes or medicine for blood pressure, high cholesterol and rheumatoid arthritis.
“Based on the amount of what they have at home, they definitely need these medications,” said Elsa Bishop, assistant director of the pharmacy in the community, and she is combing through the bags.
Wilding said that more than half of the patients of the health center have at least one chronic condition that needs consistent care.
In other cases, some people do not renew food assistance or medical benefits; Some end the coverage of health insurance for their children, even if their children are American citizens, for fear that any paper paper will return to the family to raise suspicions of the enforcement of immigration. Defenders say they are away from applying for help to pay hospital bills.
In Mano, the Family Resources Center in Mano, a non -profit organization in the north of suburbs that help about 12,000 Latin immigrants per year to register in public advantages, among other services, the director of the program, Irma Parrentos, said that the cases managers usually receive about 50 to 60 calls On a day to apply for benefits.
It has been modified to three to five calls per day.
“Fear is so great that it prevents people from seeking life -saving treatment and preventive treatment,” said Parrentos.
It refers to Illinois Health Insurance Programs for adults and the elderly migrants regardless of their migration situation, as a lifeline for people who have no legal status in the state has been praised. If people are not renewed every year, they lose coverage.
“We will have this vicious course of people who have to go to ER as the latter's shelter and they have these huge medical bills that every person in America has,” said Brentos.
Grace Shin, the pharmacist of the community employees in Chicago, on February 4, 2025.
Chicago Police Director Larry Sinling said that ice agents have detained at least 100 people in the Chicago region, including in Lake County, where Mano Mano has offices.
The researchers at the Institute of Non -Partisan Immigration Policy documented the superficial impact on immigration during the first period of Trump, when there was a sharp decrease in low -income immigrants who share financial aid, food assistance and health insurance they were qualified for.
“Fear has been present, since the election of the new president,” said Levia Quinnes, Higher Director of Health Policy at the Illinois Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees.
A glimmer of hope
With many immigrants fear that their homes are left, health advocates resort to social media to get their messages. Mano A Mano hosts a weekly broadcast of direct broadcasting as they call different partners, such as hospitals and non -profit organizations, to talk about what is happening, educate people about their advantages and rights when interacting with immigration officers, and trying to reduce concerns.
Communityhealth plans to open “Micro-Clinic” next month in the back of the Yards neighborhood within the resurrection project, a non-profit institution that helps migrants in everything from well-off housing to legal services. Winding said this would help reduce travel times for some patients, and may tempt them to continue to conduct their regular checks. It may take about an hour of public transport to reach the main clinic in Communityhealth near West Town from behind the squares.
Meanwhile, to help protect patients, Willling will not allow immigration officers or non -sick people to stay in the waiting area or lobby. Immigration officers usually need to show a signature of a judge or a possible reason to arrest someone. Willing is also looking into ways to against people in the clinic, such as the doorbell camera on homes and companies.
Again in the main clinic, between patients, Bavis tries to maintain the perspective. During Covid, there was a vaccine on the horizon to look at. When thousands of immigrants arrived at Chicago, service providers at Communityhealth and other clinics took care of.
“At this moment, I feel I am looking for hope,” Pavis said. “I want to be strong for my patients and my community, but I now think, today, it's very difficult.”
Christine Shores covers public health and Cook Province for WBEZ.
