With increased federal activity relating to immigration, healthcare facilities have been grappling with questions related to patients and staff whose legal status in the U.S. may be in jeopardy.
In 2017, MHA responded to the issue by hosting for its membership two training sessions focusing on how to respond to federal immigration and customs enforcement officials (ICE) if they come to a facility, and how employees will be affected by changes to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and the Temporary Protected Status programs. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey’s office worked with providers and patient advocates to develop statewide guidance on protecting patient confidentiality and access to care if ICE comes to a facility seeking information on patients.
Now, the Immigrant Healthcare Access Coalition – founded by Health Law Advocates and supported by Health Care For All and the Massachusetts Immigration and Refugee Advocacy Coalition – has developed an immigrant toolkit to provide clarity to growing concerns related to immigrant rights and to ensure that immigrants in Massachusetts are receiving the best healthcare available to them. The toolkit can be found on the
Health Care For All website here. It is designed to promote immigrant health rights and includes resources for providers, patients, and all individuals. The toolkit also includes resources on immigration assistance available in communities; websites and social media links to help people follow what is occurring on this issue in Massachusetts and around the nation; and ways that individuals can get more involved or take action nationally.