A Survey of Immigrants in New Jersey under COVID-19.
READ THE FULL REPORT HERE.
This report analyzes the experiences of low-wage immigrant workers and families in New Jersey during the first month of the COVID-19 crisis, from March to April 2020. It is based on in-depth phone interviews with over 200 immigrants residing in New Jersey. After analysis of the survey responses, we provide a series of policy recommendations for how our state and federal government can better serve immigrant communities during the pandemic.
Executive Summary:
Deep Inequities in Access to Health Care: Despite nearly half of respondents reporting sickness in the last month, very low rates of health insurance coverage–and the chilling effects of immigration enforcement–mean one in two people who were sick haven’t seen a doctor
- A staggering 75% of all survey respondents–and 85% of undocumented individuals–report having no health insurance.
Chilling Effect of Immigration Enforcement Prevents Immigrants from Seeking Care: among undocumented survey respondents, 64% report not having gone to a doctor or using local services in the past because they were worried about immigration enforcement or the impact on their status
No Access to State and Federal Wage Cash Aid for Undocumented Immigrants: of respondents who lost their jobs and are undocumented, none qualify for federal stimulus payments or state unemployment benefits.
Income Insecurity Means Few Immigrants Will be Able to Pay Rent in May: the vast majority of survey respondents are worried about making rent in May.
- Among renters surveyed, 86% are worried about being able to pay rent next month.
Immigrants Are Unable to Pay for Basic Necessities, Like Food, Medicine and Utilities: Financial hardship is intense and widely felt within New Jersey’s immigrant communities. Most people surveyed are worried about being able to pay bills, buy medicine or access enough food in the coming month.
- While financial hardship and worries are widely felt, when asked about the coming month undocumented respondents had especially high levels of worry:
- 91% were worried about being able to pay utilities or other bills
- 83% were worried about accessing enough food for their families
- 70% were worried about buying medicine for themselves or for their families
Pervasive Labor Rights Violations for Low Wage, Immigrant Workers: Despite being available to all workers regardless of immigration status, a majority of undocumented survey respondents reported that they were not provided with paid sick days by their employer. Undocumented respondents were less likely to report that their employers were doing everything they could to keep workers safe (including safety trainings, providing masks, etc.).
To read the full report: click here.