Alongside other workers and community groups and led by the People’s Care Collective, CIR members working at Los Angeles County hospitals recently won unprecedented protocols meant to protect immigrant patients. 

The new LA County policy clarifies that patients brought into healthcare facilities by civil law enforcement officers, including ICE, have the right to communicate with family members, legal counsel, and advocates. It also encourages privacy for immigrant patients from agents and discourages the use of restraints and shackling, along with other provisions.

Working alongside community groups, healthcare workers, and advocates, CIR started fighting for the policy in response to widespread panic and horrific raids inside hospitals last year. Now, advocates and organizers across LA County are working to make sure patients and healthcare workers are aware of the new guidance. 

CIR members across the country have seen exactly how dire conditions are for immigrant patients and communities. As state violence against our loved ones and neighbors escalates, we can use our collective power to fight both for advancements while protecting our patients’ most basic rights.