Migration-Related Trauma Among Asylum Seekers Exposed to the Migrant Protection Protocols.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

The Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) were introduced in January 2019 and changed US asylum procedures by requiring certain asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while awaiting immigration proceedings. Understanding the association of MPP with trauma is important for informing immigration and health policy.

Objective

To evaluate whether exposure to the MPP was associated with trauma reported during migration.

Design, setting, and participants

This retrospective cohort study of forensic medical evaluations in both the US and Mexico was conducted from 2016 to 2022. The study included 94 asylum seekers who underwent forensic medical evaluations between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022, categorized into 3 groups: pre-2019 asylum seekers (n = 26), 2019-2022

SUBMITTER: Joyner K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12776200 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature