1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to take action against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations that pose a direct threat to public health in our communities. As a constituent and healthcare professional with ICU experience, I have witnessed firsthand how fear of immigration enforcement prevents people from seeking necessary medical care, creating dangerous public health consequences for everyone. When individuals avoid hospitals and clinics due to fear of ICE, communicable diseases go untreated and spread through our communities. Chronic conditions worsen without intervention, leading to more expensive emergency care that taxpayers ultimately fund. Pregnant individuals skip prenatal care, increasing maternal and infant mortality rates. This is not theoretical. Healthcare workers across the country are documenting patients who refuse to call ambulances during medical emergencies or leave hospitals against medical advice because of immigration enforcement fears. The presence of ICE in or near healthcare facilities violates the fundamental principle that medical care should be accessible to all people regardless of immigration status. This is not just a moral issue but a practical public health necessity. Diseases do not check documentation status before spreading. When any segment of our population cannot access healthcare, we all become more vulnerable. I am asking you to support legislation that prohibits ICE operations in and around healthcare facilities, schools, and other sensitive locations. Additionally, I urge you to advocate for policies that ensure healthcare access is not contingent on immigration status and that medical information is never shared with immigration enforcement agencies. Our healthcare system is already strained. Creating additional barriers to care through immigration enforcement makes every community less safe and less healthy. I need to know that you will prioritize public health over punitive immigration policies that harm everyone in your district.