Covid 19 Vaccinations and Undocumented Workers

As vaccines begin to be distributed across the country, a predictable challenge will likely arise. Public health officials are rightly including undocumented immigrants in their plans for vaccination. However, despite Donald Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election, anti-immigrant politicians show no signs of softening their continued mischaracterizations and attacks. Covid-19 vaccine distribution presents multiple opportunities for them to try to further divide the country. Those who support a science-driven approach should be prepared to rebut objections to the cost to American taxpayers of paying for the inoculation of undocumented immigrants, suggestions that immigration status should be a factor in determining the order in which people in this country are vaccinated, and the notion that vaccine access will incentivize unauthorized border crossings.

Taxpayer Funding for Vaccines

From Trump’s draconian public charge regulations to the debate over health insurance coverage for undocumented immigrants, anti-immigrant politicians have seized any opportunity to make access to publicly-funded benefits and services an issue. With the Covid-19 vaccine, this objection could arise where states make the vaccine available for free to all residents of the state, regardless of immigration status.

Suggested Responses:

• This isn’t a debate about our immigration system or undocumented people’s access to health insurance. We need to protect all Americans from this deadly virus. The only way we can do that is to ensure that everyone in the United States gets the vaccine. If only a portion of the country receives the vaccine, we can’t protect our communities or reopen our schools or our economy.
• Undocumented workers have been at the front lines of our fight against Covid-19, from staffing our grocery stores to helping take care our loved ones when they are ill. All of us, immigrant and American-born alike, have been making enormous sacrifices to look out for one another and protect our communities. The only way we can protect the entire country against this virus for good is to ensure that everyone is able to get the vaccine, because this virus does not discriminate on the basis of immigration status, and anyone can spread it.

Vaccine Priority

The other potential challenge in vaccine distribution could be the mischaracterization that undocumented immigrants will be “skipping the line” ahead of American citizens or legal immigrants in obtaining the limited doses currently available. Undocumented immigrants disproportionately work in essential industries, and with many states prioritizing essential workers for vaccine priority distribution, it is likely that in some states undocumented workers will receive the vaccine in early phases. California, for example, plans to vaccinate essential workers in phase 2 of its roll out. While this is sound policy from both an economic and public health perspective, it presents an opportunity for mischaracterization.

Suggested Responses:

• All essential workers are vital to getting through this national crisis. The most important thing for the safety of everyone in America is that vulnerable populations and health care workers get the vaccine as soon as possible. It is also crucial to ensure that every essential worker gets access to the vaccine. That is the only way we can make it safe again for every American to go to the grocery store, to the doctor, or out to dinner.
• The virus doesn’t care whether we are American born or immigrants. It’s a danger to us all, and the only way we can get on the path to reducing the spread and reopening our economy is to ensure that all workers, starting with health care and then other essential workers, get the vaccine as soon as possible. That will protect American lives and American jobs.

Vaccine Access Encouraging Border Crossings

There will also be those who want to cast doubt on vaccinating everyone who is here in our country by arguing that it will incentivize unauthorized migration from Central and Southern America. For years, we’ve seen similar attacks from those seeking to politicize every aspect of our immigration system. And while many countries in the Americas have been hit just as hard as us by this pandemic, it would be wrong and counterproductive to compromise our science-driven vaccination programs just because of anti-immigrant mischaracterizations.

• Our states have all established clear priorities for vaccine distribution to ensure they will go where they are needed in our communities, as quickly as possible. And like many other countries, our land borders have been shuttered throughout this pandemic. Necessary restrictions on entry and travel will remain in place until we truly have this pandemic under control. And the Biden administration will ensure that our immigration laws are enforced consistent with our national interest and values.
• Mexico has already begun the rollout of its own vaccine distribution program. A fully vaccinated American region is critical to our long-term health and economic recovery. Once we’ve vaccinated our own communities, it is imperative we also make sure our neighbors and allies are fully vaccinated. Clear and proactive assistance to our neighboring countries will protect both us and them from this pandemic for good—especially since the virus knows no borders.