Media statement
Nov. 9, 2026
In light of recent news about federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in and around hospitals throughout California, the California Hospital Association, Hospital Council – Northern & Central California, the Hospital Association of Southern California, and the Hospital Association of San Diego & Imperial Counties are reaffirming the fundamental role of hospitals to provide care to everyone who needs it, regardless of immigration status, and sharing information about the laws governing interactions between ICE and California hospitals.
“Hospitals are places of healing and support for the ill and injured,” said Bryan Bucklew, President & CEO of the California Hospital Association. “California hospitals are open and ready to serve all in need, and patients have every right and expectation to feel safe in a hospital.”
Hospitals’ first and foremost duty is to provide vital health care services for people in need. As such, hospitals are places where all Californians can turn to, without fear for their safety or well-being and regardless of immigration status.
“Providing medical care to someone in law enforcement custody is not the same as participating in immigration enforcement,” said George W. Greene, President & CEO of the Hospital Association of Southern California. “Hospitals in the Los Angeles area and throughout California provide necessary medical treatment to all — including individuals in federal custody — consistent with their commitment to care for every patient who comes through their doors.”
While hospitals are places of healing, situations involving law enforcement can raise concerns among patients and the communities they serve. With that, the following facts may be relevant at this time:
- Hospitals do not ask patients for their immigration status. That is not a function of hospital care.
- When people come to hospitals — whether they are in custody or not — the hospital’s role is to treat illness and injury based on the patient’s medical needs. Hospitals are not involved in law enforcement proceedings.
- People in the custody of law enforcement (including ICE officers) routinely need hospital care — this happens every day in California hospitals. These situations include individuals who have been detained but not arrested or charged, as well as people who have already been arrested or incarcerated but need hospital services.
- State law prohibits hospitals from allowing anyone to access nonpublic areas of a facility for immigration enforcement purposes, unless required by state or federal law, or unless the person has a valid judicial warrant or court order that specifically grants access to nonpublic areas of the facility.
- That restriction does not prohibit any person, including an immigration officer, from entering nonpublic areas of a hospital to receive care for themselves or someone in their care or custody, and does not prohibit a person who is in lawful custody from being accompanied to access health care services and for their transportation to health care provider entities.
- California law establishes several important protections for patients, including safeguards for confidential medical information and restrictions on immigration enforcement access to nonpublic patient care areas.
- Hospitals are required by law to cooperate with officers and prohibited from disclosing patient information to ICE officers unless:
- The patient voluntarily signs a legally compliant “authorization for the release of information” form
- The officer provides a valid subpoena, subpoena duces tecum, search warrant lawfully issued to ICE, or court order (for medical information requests)
- The officer provides a valid judicial warrant signed by a United States District Court judge or magistrate (for physical access requests)
- Another law specifically requires or authorizes the disclosure
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