Extract

Chicago is a sanctuary city with a Welcoming City Ordinance that outlines that the city will not ask about immigration status, disclose that information to authorities, or deny city services based on immigration status.1,2 Chicago provides shelter, food, and medical care to all, regardless of immigration status.

University of Illinois (UI) Health is a safety-net hospital with approximately 48,000 emergency department (ED) visits each year. It is located on the west side of Chicago and treats a predominantly minority underserved population. Our mission is based on the foundation to advance health for everyone, including migrants. Over the past 12 months, we have seen increases in the numbers of migrant patients presenting to our ED from nearby police stations and tent locations. Without separate living quarters, contagions spread rampantly in these individuals, especially during peak respiratory virus season. Toward the end of 2023, we saw a significant increase in the number of varicella cases among unvaccinated migrants.3 Many of these patients are infants and small children, living with their parents in shelters or police stations. Without transportation or money, procuring medications, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, from a community pharmacy is not feasible, let alone obtaining prescription medications.

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