Aug 15, 2021 - Politics & Policy

NIH director: Claims linking undocumented immigrants to COVID spread a "distraction"

Yacob Reyes

NIH Director Francis Collins told "Fox News Sunday" claims that undocumented immigrants crossing the Southern border have played a major role in the U.S. spread of COVID-19 are a "distraction."

What he's saying: "It's an issue, but it is certainly not the cause of our current dilemma," Collins told host Chris Wallace. "We've got enough of a problem with our own citizens who have refused to roll up their sleeves, so maybe that would be a better thing to focus on if we are trying to end this."

Why it matters: Prominent Republicans, including governors like Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida, have attributed a surge of COVID-19 cases across the country to undocumented immigrants.

In July, Abbott issued an executive order aimed at restricting people outside government from transporting undocumented immigrants, saying the act would "reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure in our communities."
DeSantis has said President Biden is "not shutting down the virus, he's helping facilitate it" by not taking a tougher stance on securing the border.

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NIH director: Claims linking undocumented immigrants to COVID spread a "distraction"

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