‘Living in survival mode’: Houston’s embattled immigrant community faces health, climate and petrochemical crises
Houston's low-income immigrant communities face compounding challenges from climate change, industrial pollution, and limited access to healthcare. Undocumented residents like Cándido Álvarez avoid medical care due to high costs and fear of deportation, despite serious health risks from environmental and occupational hazards. A stark east-west divide in the city reflects disparities in life expectancy, pollution exposure, and economic opportunity.
- ▪Cándido Álvarez, an undocumented immigrant from Honduras, avoids medical care due to a $7,500 hospital bill he received during a prior Covid-19 treatment.
- ▪Houston’s east side, home to many Black and brown residents, faces a 21-year life expectancy gap compared to wealthier, whiter neighborhoods on the west side.
- ▪The area known as 'the arrow' visually represents disparities in health, wealth, and environmental hazards across Houston.
- ▪Immigrant communities in Houston are exposed to petrochemical plants, frequent flooding, and extreme heat, worsening public health outcomes.
- ▪The second Trump administration’s policies have increased healthcare costs and fear of deportation, discouraging immigrants from seeking medical help.
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Illustration: Guardian Design / Getty ImagesView image in fullscreen Illustration: Guardian Design / Getty ImagesHouston‘Living in survival mode’: Houston’s embattled immigrant community faces health, climate and petrochemical crisesAmid immigration raids, chemical spills, massive floods and costly healthcare, less-affluent residents of one of the most diverse US cities struggle to pull throughAlexandra Villarreal in HoustonSat 2 May 2026 08.00 EDTLast modified on Sat 2 May 2026 08.01 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleCándido Álvarez has made it his policy never to go to the doctor.“Not when I’m sick, not even when it’s serious,” he said.
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