Health Care Providers: Preserve Access to Care and Protect Your Patients from Border Patrol and ICE Interference
The threat of immigration enforcement and presence of law enforcement at health care facilities deters immigrants and communities of color from seeking needed medical services. Border communities are particularly vulnerable given the frequent presence of U.S. Border Patrol agents at hospitals, which is compounded by the enforcement actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (that threaten immigrant communities across the country. The impact of immigration officials’ presence and actions at health care facilities is especially acute during times of public health crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care providers should be informed of their rights, the rights of their patients, and the steps they can take to protect their patients and ensure access to care without fear or discrimination.

Health Care Providers and Immigration Enforcement: Know Your Rights, Know Your Patients’ Rights
The threat of increased federal immigration enforcement has raised concerns among immigrant families, some of whom may decide to forego necessary medical services out of fear that they could be putting themselves and their family members at risk. This factsheet provides advice to hospitals, medical centers, community health centers, other health care facilities, and advocates on how to prepare for and respond to (a) enforcement actions by immigration officials and (b) interactions with law enforcement that could result in immigration consequences for their patients.