Federal immigration agents are increasingly appearing at hospitals across California, causing concern among healthcare workers and patients. The Trump administration’s intensified deportation efforts have led to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents visiting medical facilities, sometimes even entering emergency rooms or waiting in lobbies for patients to be discharged. In some instances, agents have pursued individuals inside healthcare centers.
This heightened presence has sparked fear among undocumented immigrants, potentially deterring them from seeking necessary medical care. Governor Gavin Newsom has criticized the Trump administration’s actions, particularly the sharing of personal medical information with immigration officials. He labeled this move as “legally dubious” and an “abuse” of power, emphasizing that it jeopardizes the safety and health of targeted individuals and the broader public.
According to Husch Blackwell, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., ordered the transfer of immigration and medical data to the Department of Homeland Security. This decision overturned a longstanding policy that protected the privacy of enrollees in public health programs. Critics, including the California Medical Association and the National Health Law Program, have condemned the sharing of personal data with ICE, arguing that it undermines legal protections and discourages individuals from accessing healthcare.
In response, State Senator Jesse Arreguín is advocating for legislation to protect patients’ privacy rights and limit ICE activities in healthcare facilities. The proposed measure would require health facilities to prevent immigration enforcement from entering non-public areas without a warrant and mandate training for personnel on how to handle such situations.
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