FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2024
CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Adrian Escárate, 202-609-9976
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458
NILC Celebrates the House Passage of the SPEAK Act
WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. House of Representatives’ bipartisan passage of the Supporting Patient Education And Knowledge (SPEAK) Act, which would establish best practices for improving access to telehealth for non-English speakers:
“Telehealth is a lifeline for so many families to access care, but too often this crucial service is placed out of reach for people with limited English proficiency. All of us, no matter where we were born or which language we speak, should have equitable access to the benefits of virtual health care. By making telehealth more accessible for people with limited English proficiency, we can improve health outcomes and lower costs. We are grateful to Representatives Michelle Steel and Jimmy Gomez for championing this legislation, and we call on the Senate to pass the SPEAK Act without delay.”
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Advocating On Behalf of Patients in Immigration Custody: A Resource for Health Care Providers and Medical Staff
Published Jun 9, 2026 This resource provides guidance for health care professionals on how to advocate and care for their patients with ICE and CBP agents present.
New NILC Resource Helps Medical Staff Advocate for Patients in Immigration Custody
Published Jun 9, 2026 The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) published new guidance today for hospitals and clinics caring for patients in immigration custody, a challenge that medical staff are increasingly facing as a result of the Trump administration’s...
Detained Immigrants Are Using Habeas Corpus to Escape Medical Neglect
Published Apr 8, 2026 68,000 people are currently trapped in immigration detention throughout the country without adequate medical care, including over 1,400 people at Otay Mesa. In the first three months of 2026, at least 14 people died in immigration...
Dignified Health Care Shouldn’t Stop With ICE Detention
Matthew Lopas and Jennifer Whitlock
Published Jun 9, 2026 Health care workers and advocates deserve tools that can help them navigate the rising presence of ICE in hospitals, which is why we put together our new resource: Advocating on Behalf of Patients in Immigration Custody....