Many asylum seekers arrive in the U.S. feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and urgently needing help with medical care, legal issues, and basic services. But too often, they don’t know where to turn.

CHWs, case managers (CMs), and asylum seekers themselves described how difficult it is to find clear, timely, and trustworthy information. Systems are confusing, and even when services are available, they can be hard to access or understand.

• For many Latin American asylum seekers (LAAS), government systems and online portals were confusing, unclear, or simply inaccessible.
• When services were available, critical gaps in communication and documentation left people vulnerable to unexpected consequences like receiving hospital bills they didn’t understand or expect.
• Sliding-scale health centers designed to serve low-income and uninsured patients still require payment or proof of eligibility. For LAAS with no income, insurance, or documents, these hurdles were simply too high. Many avoided care altogether, fearing it might jeopardize their immigration status.
• Constantly shifting immigration policies, such as, the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) and Title 42, created more confusion and instability. CMs emphasized how these changes restricted access and made navigation even harder for people seeking assistance.