Many things must happen simultaneously when immigrants and asylum seekers reach the American border. They have to enter the immigration system or the expedited removal program, depending on their reason for entering the country. Afterward, they receive temporary housing and medical treatment. The treatments they receive can vary, which leads to missed opportunities.

There are numerous reasons why disparities in cancer screening among U.S. immigrants happen every day. Thankfully they can be fixed with the proper attention and funding.

Why are there cancer screening disparities?

These are some of the most common reasons immigrants and asylum seekers experience cancer screening disparities after crossing the border. Understanding what’s causing the problems is crucial to help individuals from the most vulnerable populations.

1. The health system is backed up

Asylum seekers and immigrants ​​should receive screening according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Cancer Screening Guidelines for all cancer categories that affect adults. However, an overload of immigrants has held the system at a near standstill for numerous years.

Research shows that an average of 16,182 immigrants attempt border crossing monthly and 47,327 people received asylum in 2020. Those numbers don’t include the nearly 1.6 million asylum seekers awaiting hearings for approval or denial of their status.

The USPSTF guidelines require that American hospitals provide preventive cancer screenings for immigrants and asylum seekers, regardless of their status. Since 19% of hospitals are critically understaffed and others are moderately understaffed, there aren’t enough medical providers available to schedule patients and perform the screenings. Health care backups are unfortunately a standard part of the experience of U.S. immigrants.

2. Other health concerns may need addressing first

When people flee or leave their home countries, they often arrive with pressing health concerns. Immigrants and asylum seekers reach the border after experiencing sexual assault at home or during their travels. Experts agree that the rate of sexual assault among these groups is rising, so they will continue to need treatment for their immediate conditions before scheduling time for preventive care.

Disparities in cancer screening among U.S. immigrants also exist because other age-related screenings may come first if they haven’t had them before. A migrant might need a colorectal cancer screening if they’re between the ages of 45 and 75, but that’s also a period when people need mammograms, updated booster vaccinations and blood pressure screenings for conditions such as heart disease.

Cisgender women may need hormone therapy to treat their menopause symptoms that disrupt their quality of life. Vision screenings for cataracts and physical therapy for injury recovery may also have to come first.

Additionally, there’s the issue of trauma to consider. Many immigrants and asylum seekers have experienced physical or sexual assault. They might want to use America’s mental health resources to heal from past trauma before making preventive health appointments. After all, you wouldn’t care about looking for weeds in your yard while your house was on fire. People want to heal their most urgent problems first.

3. There’s an urgent need for translators

America also lacks translators in its immigration and health care systems. Although asylum seekers might know how to communicate their concerns regarding their anxiety levels while running from their home country, they may not understand language related to preventive cancer screenings.

Statistics show that 40% of Guatemalan immigrants speak indigenous languages that immigration and medical personnel haven’t learned. That’s just one country. Of the 45 million immigrants who reached the U.S. in 2021, people came from hometowns across South America, Europe and other global regions.

Both systems need translators in more languages to better communicate the need for cancer screenings. The U.S. education system may only teach some indigenous languages, leading to an ongoing barrier that holds people back from medical services.

Why it’s important to continue learning about the Immigrant experience

Numerous problems causing disparities in cancer screening among U.S. immigrants and asylum seekers require multiple solutions. Additional funding and workers must reach the health care system, and the immigration system needs more interpreters.

Extra clinics along the southern border and in the most popular migrant-friendly cities would also speed up the screening process. Overflow patients would receive the care they need without waiting months or years to get it.

The experience of U.S. immigrants and asylum seekers is complex but not without solutions. Adequate funding, hiring and policy changes can improve it and immediately get people the necessary medical care.

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Beth, the Managing Editor and content manager at Body+Mind, is well-respected in the mental health, nutrition and fitness spaces. In her spare time, Beth enjoys cooking and going for runs with her dog.