Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

Carlin Lockwood
Policy
May 28, 2025
Share
Tweet
Share

It is standard practice to start opinion pieces with a powerful anecdote that “hooks” the reader and lures them in, winning their attention by appealing to their humanity. However, this highlights the exact issue posed by the recent revocation of immigration rights in the U.S.; we do not know the stories that most need to be told right now. Instead, we have to tell of the patients who did not show up to their primary care appointments, of the individuals who did not seek care during medical emergencies due to the threat of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids at medical facilities, and of the gaps in care left by health care workers who have been detained or deported.

The current presidential administration’s anti-immigration sentiment is a health care issue with the potential to cause significant harm to patients and health care workers alike.

Since the inauguration of President Trump on January 20, 2025, the new presidential administration has announced several executive orders related to immigration policy, declaring that it will expedite “mass deportations” of undocumented migrants while also halting the processing of asylum seekers and intensifying border control efforts.

Of these anti-immigration efforts, the widely publicized ICE raids in particular have garnered significant public attention and created widespread fear for many immigrants living in the U.S. The Trump administration recently released an executive order with the goal of increasing ICE’s power to arrest, detain, and deport undocumented migrants by allowing the agency to “expedite” deportations by bypassing immigration courts. In addition to this executive order, the administration also rescinded a policy that previously protected individuals from ICE arrests in “sensitive” areas, which notably included health care facilities.

The U.S. health care system has already been impacted by these anti-immigration efforts. For one, undocumented patients are now forgoing essential medical care. CommunityHealth, a free clinic in Chicago with a high proportion of immigrant patients, has noted that hundreds of patients—roughly 30 percent of all patients they serve—have skipped appointments and failed to pick up prescriptions due to fear of ICE raids at the facility. For many patients who rely on clinics like CommunityHealth, missing health care appointments means running out of medications needed to manage chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Without medication adherence and regular check-ups, these diseases can progress to significant morbidity and mortality that would have otherwise been avoided, thereby worsening existing health disparities.

This phenomenon can and will extend to emergency care as well. If patients are afraid of going to their provider’s office for a brief appointment or to their pharmacy to pick up a prescription, they are likely going to delay or forgo more lengthy interactions with the health care system during emergency situations as well. Given that emergency department visits have a national median length of 2 hours and 42 minutes and can potentially result in a hospital admission, patients may believe that the risk of encountering ICE officials during a long hospital visit outweighs the benefits of receiving medical care.

It is important to note that the impact of anti-immigration policies on the health care system extends beyond the fear of ICE raids at hospitals. Current “mass deportation” efforts also pose a significant threat to the health care workforce. Immigrants and children of immigrants make up an outsized proportion of health care workers; in fact, they comprise a greater percentage of health care practitioners than their overall share of the U.S. population. In recent months, the media has been awash with stories of green card and visa holders being detained and deported, including news of a Lebanese kidney transplant specialist with a valid visa being deported to Lebanon despite having proper documentation. Anti-immigration policy threatens to deprive the U.S. of innumerable skilled providers, ultimately decreasing the quality of health care in this country.

As we navigate these unprecedented times, it is of the utmost importance that we advocate for our patients in unprecedented ways:

It is essential that medical facilities establish and communicate institution-wide plans regarding how to protect patients in the event of an ICE raid. When discussing these plans, it is important to ensure that all workers understand their rights to protect their patients and themselves. Providers have the right to remain silent and are not required to give ICE officials access to any information or spaces without a warrant. If an ICE officer does present a warrant, hospitals should have a designated authorized representative to assess the validity and appropriateness of the document. If the warrant is not signed by a judge or magistrate, does not specify the exact address of the facility, and/or fails to detail the date and scope of the search, it does not necessitate cooperation.

It is also important to protect patients by refraining from documenting any information regarding a patient’s immigration status that is not pertinent to their care. If any documentation needs to occur, this information should be stored securely, out of public view, and separately from the electronic medical record. Communicating this information with all staff and providers allows for protection of patients.

Finally, all health care providers who are able to safely advocate against anti-immigration policies and laws should engage in this form of advocacy on behalf of their patients and colleagues alike. Providers—particularly those who have the privilege of knowing that their citizenship will not be questioned—should be writing to representatives, publishing op-eds and essays about how anti-immigration policies have affected their patients and themselves, and initiating conversations with leadership at their health care institutions about initiating institution-level changes to protect patients.

When we enter the field of medicine, we swear an oath to do no harm to our patients. In this era of anti-immigration sentiment, we cannot claim no harm if we fail to advocate for the protection and safety of our immigrant patients and providers alike in all health care settings.

Carlin Lockwood is a medical student.

ADVERTISEMENT

Prev

"The medical board doesn't know I exist. That's the point."

May 28, 2025 Kevin 0
…
Next

Breaking the cycle of sacrifice: from medical martyrdom to purposeful healing [PODCAST]

May 28, 2025 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Public Health & Policy

Post navigation

< Previous Post
"The medical board doesn't know I exist. That's the point."
Next Post >
Breaking the cycle of sacrifice: from medical martyrdom to purposeful healing [PODCAST]

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

  • Medicare’s cobra effect: How a well-intentioned policy spiraled into a health care crisis

    Robert Pearl, MD
  • High-deductible health plans: a barrier to care for chronic conditions

    Shirin Hund, MD
  • Expanding health care access and equity through telehealth

    Gjanje L. Smith, MD, MPH, Wanneh A. Dixon, and Maria Phillips, JD
  • Climate change is exacerbating diseases in vulnerable populations in America and abroad

    Andrew Williams and Jennifer Romanello, MD
  • Fostering health care innovation through federal policy: a case for direct primary care

    Christopher Habig, MBA
  • Primary care colonialism: the impact of profit-driven health care on communities

    Michael Fine, MD

More in Policy

  • Why Medicaid cuts should alarm every doctor

    Ilan Shapiro, MD
  • Why physician voices matter in the fight against anti-LGBTQ+ laws

    BJ Ferguson
  • What Adam Smith would say about America’s for-profit health care

    M. Bennet Broner, PhD
  • The lab behind the lens: Equity begins with diagnosis

    Michael Misialek, MD
  • Conflicts of interest are eroding trust in U.S. health agencies

    Martha Rosenberg
  • When America sneezes, the world catches a cold: Trump’s freeze on HIV/AIDS funding

    Koketso Masenya
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • Why Medicaid cuts should alarm every doctor

      Ilan Shapiro, MD | Policy
    • When the diagnosis is personal: What my mother’s Alzheimer’s taught me about healing

      Pearl Jones, MD | Conditions
    • Key strategies for smooth EHR transitions in health care

      Sandra Johnson | Tech
    • Reassessing the impact of CDC’s opioid guidelines on chronic pain care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why flashy AI tools won’t fix health care without real infrastructure

      David Carmouche, MD | Tech
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • How dismantling DEI endangers the future of medical care

      Shashank Madhu and Christian Tallo | Education
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • How scales of justice saved a doctor-patient relationship

      Neil Baum, MD | Physician
    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • Why shared decision-making in medicine often fails

      M. Bennet Broner, PhD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Why what doctors say matters more than you think [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How Mark Twain would dismantle today’s flawed medical AI

      Neil Baum, MD and Mark Ibsen, MD | Tech
    • Mastering medical presentations: Elevating your impact

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Marketing as a clinician isn’t about selling. It’s about trust.

      Kara Pepper, MD | Physician
    • Graduating from medical school without family: a story of strength and survival

      Anonymous | Education
    • Inside human trafficking: a guide to recognizing and preventing it [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 2 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • Why Medicaid cuts should alarm every doctor

      Ilan Shapiro, MD | Policy
    • When the diagnosis is personal: What my mother’s Alzheimer’s taught me about healing

      Pearl Jones, MD | Conditions
    • Key strategies for smooth EHR transitions in health care

      Sandra Johnson | Tech
    • Reassessing the impact of CDC’s opioid guidelines on chronic pain care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why flashy AI tools won’t fix health care without real infrastructure

      David Carmouche, MD | Tech
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • How dismantling DEI endangers the future of medical care

      Shashank Madhu and Christian Tallo | Education
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • How scales of justice saved a doctor-patient relationship

      Neil Baum, MD | Physician
    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • Why shared decision-making in medicine often fails

      M. Bennet Broner, PhD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Why what doctors say matters more than you think [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How Mark Twain would dismantle today’s flawed medical AI

      Neil Baum, MD and Mark Ibsen, MD | Tech
    • Mastering medical presentations: Elevating your impact

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Marketing as a clinician isn’t about selling. It’s about trust.

      Kara Pepper, MD | Physician
    • Graduating from medical school without family: a story of strength and survival

      Anonymous | Education
    • Inside human trafficking: a guide to recognizing and preventing it [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care
2 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...