Border Region Emergency Medical Services in Migrant Emergency Care

The findings of this qualitative study of EMS clinicians suggest that migration has a complex, multidimensional influence on EMS clinicians in the border region. Deterrence-focused actions have not decreased the number of crossings but rather pushed migrants to cross in more dangerous ways, leading to more injuries and deaths. Our findings suggest that the strain placed on local EMS clinicians is unsustainable and may be exacerbated by increased deterrence-based policies. Instead, border-region EMS clinicians need increased federal funding to support their work.