ONgoing initiative
HEALTHCARE BEST PRACTICES
Fear of immigration enforcement creates chronic anxiety for immigrant families and prompts them to avoid using vital healthcare services. Here are a few pointers for healthcare centers:
1. Send the message that all are welcome.
Signs should be posted everywhere (e.g. waiting rooms, hallways, exam rooms, bathrooms).
2. Make Know Your Rights information and immigration resources available.
Provide information materials in multiple languages everywhere (e.g. waiting rooms, hallways, exam rooms, bathrooms); consider playing informational videos in the waiting room.
Have lots of Red Cards available, which immigrants can give to immigration enforcement to exert their rights.
3. Educate healthcare staff about immigration policy & its effects on health.
Review educational modules under Education section.
Email maimmigranthealth@gmail.com to arrange a training or grand rounds presentation in your health system. We can help discuss caring for patients in ICE custody and other scenarios which may arise while caring for immigrants.
4. Create a formal policy to NOT share patient information with ICE. The PROTECT Act requires all hospitals and health centers to have a policy to address law enforcement presence in healthcare institutions by October 4, 2026.
Health centers & healthcare providers should NOT have to share patient information with immigration or law enforcement without a warrant. All healthcare facilities should have formal policies & procedures for what to do if ICE is seeking information about a patient.
All staff should be trained to follow the formal protocol. (This is a recommendation from Massachusetts EOHHS. Ask your health system for trainings and in particular simulations/fire drills for the protocol.)
There should be a clear designated person and escalation protocol for who should be informed if ICE is requesting patient information.
IF federal agents violate the law, report this to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office: mass.gov/fedmisconduct.
See the Massachusetts Government PROTECT Act website for more details about the PROTECT Act.
Other helpful items:
Massachusetts department of Public Health, “Recommendations for hospitals and healthcare service providers interacting with federal immigration officers, May 2026;
See Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office Guidance to Medical Providers (1/31/25)
5. Adopt a policy to protect patients and staff rights when immigration enforcement accompanies patients in custody in the hospital.
This is also a recommendation of the Massachusetts EOHHS. See: “Model Policy for Covered Care Providers Related to Interacting with Civil Law Enforcement,” September 4, 2026
Model Policy for Immigration Enforcement in the Healthcare Setting (Developed by Physician Working Group on Patient Safety in direct consultation with attorneys with expertise in Immigration Law, Detention and Deportation Law, Human Rights Law, Health Care Employee Protections Law, endorsed by ACLU Foundation of Southern California, California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC), California Nurses Association: National Nurses United (CNA), Committee of Interns and Residents: SIEU Healthcare (CIR) and more…
6. Train your financial services and registration staff regarding benefit eligibility for immigrants.
During the last Trump administration, millions of immigrant patients stopped accessing health benefits and many dropped benefits for which they were eligible due to fear that their immigration status would be impacted. As of September 18, 2026, the Trump administration updated the Public Charge Policy again. Although the Public Charge policy only applies to immigrants applying for a greencard or visa, many other immigrants are now fearful to access benefits as a result.
Visit the Protecting Immigrant Families website for up to date information on the public charge issue.
Furthermore, benefit eligibility is changing due to the OB3 law, parts of which will take effect on October 1, 2026, and others which will take effect in January 2027 and beyond. Below find some information about programs which may change in eligibility for immigrants.
Mass Health Guide regarding changing eligibility for non-citizens https://www.mass.gov/info-details/masshealth-information-for-noncitizens
Updates regarding eligibility changes from Mass Health Connector: https://www.mahealthconnector.org/updates#toc_Federal_Policy_Changes_Impacting_2027_Coverage
Cuban and Haitian entrants memo: https://www.mass.gov/doc/eom-22-03-eligibility-rules-for-cuban-and-haitian-entrants-0/download
Mass Health moving 15k immigrants to managed care - information from Mass Law Reform Institute (MLRI): https://www.masslegalservices.org/content/masshealth-moving-15k-immigrants-managed-care-fee-service-2026
National Summary from Kaiser Family Foundation: https://www.kff.org/immigrant-health/implementation-of-medicaid-immigrant-eligibility-restrictions-under-the-2025-reconciliation-law-issues-to-consider/
7. Start an immigrant Health Task Force
During times of great flux and transition, mobilization and coordination, as well as the ability to rapidly coordinate, hear from the front lines and verify concerns with professionals is invaluable. An immigrant health task force can help by improving communication from the front lines to senior leadership
Who should be represented?
General Counsel’s Office, Security, Representative from senior leadership such as a Chief Community Officer, government affairs, representative from major departments, leadership from financial services and registration departments, supervisor for case management/social workers, community partners/CBOs, and marketing.
Know Your Healthcare Rights
More details about the rights of patients and healthcare providers, are available on the website of National Immigrant Law Center: Healthcare and Health Insurance for Immigrants.
