Low-income and Undocumented Immigrants Struggle Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic

In a state where more than a quarter of residents are foreign-born,
many low-income and undocumented immigrants have dealt with heavy
burdens during the coronavirus pandemic. The biggest challenges
involve high infection rates, loss of income, and feeling forced to
continue working in high-risk environments. Many programs designed
to give financial assistance to undocumented workers are running
dry as the pandemic persists. Meanwhile, U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services, the federal agency that processes immigration
applications, plans to furlough more than two-thirds of its staff
in coming months due to budget cuts. That move could significantly
delay citizenship and green card applications as well as asylum
cases. We discuss how low-income and undocumented immigrants in
California are faring during the coronavirus pandemic.