Earlier this year, resident physicians and fellows took to the streets for a National Day of Action to demand that ICE get out of our communities, hospitals, and cities. In the days leading up to the nationwide No Kings rallies, physicians organized local actions outside of our hospitals to make it clear that hospitals are places of healing, not fear!
These actions highlighted the growing public health crisis caused by ICE’s presence in healthcare settings and advocated for safer conditions for physicians and healing environments for patients. We witnessed patients skipping appointments and rationing medication because they were terrified of being kidnapped by ICE in the process of attending an appointment or picking up medication.
“As resident physicians, we spend our days caring for patients at some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. People come to us when they are in pain, when they are afraid, when they need help. And in those moments, the one thing they should never have to worry about is whether seeking care will put them and their loved ones at risk,” said Dr. Jauntea Maxey at Montefiore’s unity break in New York.
Nationwide, CIR physicians see the impact on our communities, our patients, and on public health. We know we cannot fulfill our oath to serve all patients when ICE continues to instill fear in our communities.
Access to healthcare is inseparable from the fight for immigrant justice. ICE is a public crisis, and we will continue to take action to protect our communities, hospitals, and patients.
Because to provide the best care for our patients, we need ICE OUT.
