The Muslim Ban and Preventive Care for Children of Middle Eastern Ancestry

Individuals of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) ancestry in the US have been the targets of anti-immigrant policies, counterterrorism operations, and vitriolic political rhetoric. Yet, lack of data identifying MENA individuals has prevented systematic evaluation of the impact of these policies and rhetoric on MENA communities' wellbeing, including investment in health capital. We begin to address this gap in knowledge by focusing on the travel ban from majority Muslim countries implemented at the start of the first Trump administration. Using a large, longitudinal medical records database we evaluate the impact of this policy on preventive care use among MENA children in the US, finding decreased well-visits, and associated vaccinations among MENA children. Documenting MENA health outcomes following changes in official US policy is paramount for understanding the full consequences of policies that target underrepresented groups.