Health care workers are rushing to learn about immigration law in case of ICE raids

Lobby of St. John’s Community Health Clinic In South Los Angeles, there was a bust with patients. But community healthcare worker Anna Ruth Barrera fears it is about to become much quieter. She says many patients are I’m afraid to leave Their home.

“The other day I spoke to one of the patients. She said: “I don’t know. Should I go to an appointment? Do I need to cancel? I don’t know what to do.” And I said, “Just come.” ”

Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, the fear of a massive deportation carried out It is owned by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency I held it Immigrant community.

For years, Long-standing policy It prevented federal immigration agents from arresting them in or near sensitive areas, such as schools, places of worship, hospitals, and health centers. This was one of the first policies in January, hours after President Trump took office.

Homeland Security Director Benjamin Huffman’s Office rescinded the order on January 21st. In a press release accompanying it, a DHS spokesman said the action would help them find immigrants who committed crimes. “The Trump administration doesn’t tie our brave law enforcement hands and instead trusts them to use common sense.” The statement said.

The speed of change took place Darrin Harris To my surprise.

“I thought I had more time,” said Harris, St. John’s Chief Government Affairs and Community Affairs Officer.

Harris is competing to teach more than 1,000 St. John workers how to read warrants when training for new roles. Tell patients constitutional rights.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Democrat; I’m giving advice A clinic that posts information about a patient’s right to remain silent and provides patients with contact information for legal assistance groups.

Bonta also urges healthcare providers to avoid including patient immigration status in their bills and medical records. His office directs staff should not physically interfere with immigration agents, but they have no obligation. I will help you with your arrest.

Despite the arrests of immigrants made at hospitals during Trump’s first term, the overall policy remained one of the respect for “a place of sensitivity.” But now, DHS I’m saying that Previous rules hampered the efforts of law enforcement by creating sites that allow people without legal status to avoid capture.

Matt RopasDirector of State Advocacy and Technical Assistance National Immigration Law Centresaid immigration officers must present a warrant signed by a judge in order to access health information and enter private spaces such as the review room.

“It’s very important that every healthcare center has someone trained to read those warrants,” Lopas said.

Training staff at 31 health clinics

In the San Francisco Gulf region Zenaida Aguilera Tap to read the warrant La Clinica de la Laza. She is a Clinic Network Compliance, Privacy and Risk Officer. If an immigration agent appears, she calls all 31 of the organization’s community clinic.

Aguilera is currently responsible for training hundreds of medical staff. She has trained about 250 people so far, but most of her work has not yet come.

“We probably have another 1,000 staff,” she said.

She fears that the Trump administration will target California for immigration enforcement, almost for that. 2 million residents According to the Pew Research Center, it’s the best in any state without legal status. In 2022, 11 million people were in the United States without permission.

Aguilera said LaClínica will post the patient’s constitutional rights in the clinic’s lobby and will provide resources such as contact information for legal aid groups.

“We want to work in caring for patients rather than training staff on what to do if there are ice staff members trying to enter the clinic,” Aguilera said.

This article is from NPR’s Health Reporting Partnership KFF Health News.