A Maryland mother, who is undocumented, delayed seeking medical care for her U.S. citizen son's severe asthma attack out of fear of encountering ICE agents on the road. The boy was eventually taken to a local clinic and then medevaced to a Washington, D.C. hospital. A new American Academy of Pediatrics survey of more than 1,600 pediatricians nationwide, conducted between April and June 2026, found 40% reported families avoiding medical care, 31% reported families avoiding programs like Medicaid or food assistance, and 21% reported families keeping children out of school due to immigration enforcement fears, with urban practices reporting avoidance at nearly double the rate of rural ones. Pediatricians trace the trend partly to the 2025 rescission of federal guidance that had kept immigration agents away from hospitals, clinics and schools, and to a broadened public charge rule.