In reality, vaccination rates in the origin countries of children migrating to the United States either rival or are greater than those in the US. Additionally, many of the diseases cited as worrisome either do not pose a threat or are not transmissible via human contact.

The public health threat angle is just one example of the distortion of important information on the plight of migrant children, and the consequences of such a distortion are tremendous given the stakes involved for both these children and the future of US immigration reform.

The answer to potential public health challenges is not scaremongering or pointing fingers at migrant children, but rather ensuring that appropriate treatment is in place for them, regardless of where geographic borders lie. We need nationwide attention to understand these marginalized groups of migrant children and find the adequate resources to provide quality care for children that may show signs of sickness.