A crisis on America’s doorstep
For years, El Paso, Texas has been at the center of migration, with tens of thousands arriving in desperate need of safety and care. In 2022, Doctors of the World launched the Border Health Program to meet escalating needs and develop a hub of expertise for migrant and refugee healthcare in the border region.
Safety, dignity, and the right to care
In El Paso, our teams have seen the heavy toll the journey north takes on the health of migrants and refugees. Many arrived after days and weeks in transit—dehydrated, injured, and exhausted, some without the medications they need for chronic conditions like diabetes or asthma. Even after reaching their destination, the fear of detention or deportation often made them hesitant to seek care.
Today, even as crossings decline, shifting policies continue to keep many people from seeking the medical help they need, turning treatable conditions into life-threatening emergencies. In a city where 1 in 4 residents is foreign-born, those barriers affect entire communities, leaving many without access to healthcare.
Impossible choices, harrowing journeys
Migrants and asylum-seekers arriving in El Paso described days without food, drinking contaminated river water, and injuries from exhaustion or falls.
Border policies can also have direct and devastating public health consequences. In El Paso alone, hospitals treated more than 300 people in 2023 for falls from the border wall with injuries ranging from broken bones to miscarriages.
Patient Stories
Carolina’s Story
Carolina*, a 47-year-old from Colombia, fractured her leg climbing down the wall with her three daughters. Our clinic stabilized her injury and cared for her children, including mental health support for her eldest, who attempted suicide on the journey. Their story underscores how policies meant to deter migration can lead to injury, trauma, and sometimes death.
*Name changed to protect patient anonymity.
Building a model for migrant and refugee healthcare
El Paso’s diverse medical student population is central to the future of care on the border. Through our partnership with Texas Tech University, Doctors of the World trains cohorts of residents and medical students in trauma-informed, culturally competent practices, preparing them to protect patients’ rights and expand healthcare access in immigrant communities.
By collecting data on migrant health cases, the program informs research, strengthens evidence-based advocacy, and eases pressure on El Paso’s health system. With its dual mission—meeting urgent needs today while shaping more responsive systems for tomorrow—we’re developing a model for rights-based healthcare that can be expanded to other communities.
From frontline care to national advocacy
As daily arrivals in El Paso surged to over 2,000 people a day, Doctors of the World helped bring national attention to the humanitarian crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border. Through coverage by outlets like NBC News and PBS NewsHour, we not only highlighted the crisis itself but also shared the human stories behind the numbers, reinforcing our role as a frontline care provider and advocate for humane, rights-based solutions.
