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Bill would restrict immigration enforcement access to hospitals; committee advances measure to Appropriations
Summary
Sen. Arguin’s SB 81 would codify attorney-general model policies limiting immigration enforcement access to patients and nonpublic areas of health facilities absent a judicial warrant; the Assembly subcommittee gave the bill a due-pass to Appropriations, 11-3.
Senator Arguin presented SB 81, a bill to codify model policies limiting immigration-enforcement access to hospitals and other health-care facilities.
Arguin said SB 81 would bar disclosure of a patient’s citizenship status to federal immigration authorities absent a valid judicial warrant, require facilities to adopt protocols for handling immigration enforcement, and restrict access to nonpublic areas without a warrant.
The author and witnesses described recent high-profile incidents in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entered or monitored patients in hospitals, including a reported incident at Glendale Memorial Hospital. Dolores Trujillo, a registered nurse and board member of the California Nurses Association, testified that hospitals “had no measures in place and no plan to ensure that patients could safely receive care without intimidation or interference by immigration agents.” Bruno Weisad (transcript spelling), representing the California Immigrant Policy Center, said recent ICE actions and broad raids had “terrorized neighborhoods” and discouraged people from seeking care.
Supporters included the California Hospital Association, California Medical Association, SEIU California, Latino Coalition for Healthy California, and the California Nurses Association; more than 70 organizations later signed in support on the record. No opposition was recorded in the hearing file.
Committee members expressed strong support for protecting access to health care and urged continued coordination with the Attorney General. The committee adopted the bill as amended and recommended it to the Assembly Appropriations Committee; the subcommittee recorded an 11-3 vote in favor.
SB 81 would require health facilities to designate management representatives to handle immigration requests, and set procedures to protect patients’ privacy and safety in nonpublic areas. The bill’s text and committee amendments were accepted by the author during the hearing.
