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Assembly committee advances bill to protect communication and basic rights of patients in immigration custody
Summary
SB 1323 would require hospitals and health providers to ensure timely, consistent communication rights and guidance for staff when caring for patients in immigration custody; immigrant‑rights groups cited cases of restricted access and alleged intimidation by federal agents.
Senator Rubio told the Assembly Health Committee that SB 1323 strengthens existing protections for people receiving medical care while in immigration custody by clarifying communication rights and staff guidance. He said the bill is intended to ensure timely, consistent notification to family members and to protect patient dignity and privacy.
Hector Pereda of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice described multiple incidents, including cases connected to the Adelanto processing facility, where advocates documented deaths and alleged systemic medical neglect. "When hospitalized, federal agents intimidate hospital staff into blacking out their information," Pereda said, and in some cases families were only notified when a patient was near death.
Monica Madrid of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights described examples where patients were shackled in hospitals, where federal agents stayed present during attorney visits and where families were barred from receiving medical updates. She told the committee that the bill would provide practical, uniform rules for hospitals and volunteers responding to requests from detained patients.
The committee accepted the author's amendments and voted to send SB 1323 to the Judiciary Committee to continue work.
