Immigration Policies as Social Determinants of Health Among International Students in the United States

Abstract The United States remains a popular destination for international students, with over one million enrolled in the 2024/2025 academic year. Nonetheless, like other temporary visa-holding groups, international students are influenced by the nation’s shifting and increasingly restrictive immigration policies. This study aimed to investigate the impact of these policies on the health and well-being of international students enrolled in graduate programs across the nation, and to examine how these policies may act as social determinants of health. In this qualitative research study, a phenomenological approach was employed to report on the lived experiences of international students. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling, and data for this study are based on 36 semi-structured interviews conducted between 2021 and 2022. Participants were young adults from fifteen different countries, with an average stay of four years in the U.S. Four major themes were selected from the qualitative data analysis: (1) Adverse health impacts of restrictive immigration policies; (2) Social support and strategic choices under restrictive immigration policies; (3) Internalized vulnerabilities and minorities against minorities; and (4) Recommendations for immigration policy improvements. Considering their experiences, participants recommended changes to immigration policies, specifically in terms of expanding work rights and improving consistency, transparency, and efficiency in adjudicating immigration petitions, work authorization requests, and visa applications. Our findings suggest a need for policy reform to consider international students’ overall health.