We, as frontline resident physicians across the University of California (UC) Health System, are deeply disappointed and ashamed of UC Health’s cooperation with the brazen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and federal agent offensives across California. These attacks that started in the communities of our most vulnerable patients are now occurring in our patient care areas. Federal immigration authorities have no place in a health care setting. In fact, their presence puts both patients and hospital staff in an unsafe environment that flagrantly defies the oath that all physicians and healthcare providers have taken to do no harm and directly contradicts our mission to provide safe, effective, and quality healthcare to every member of our community
Over the last weeks, we have seen ICE presence at multiple UC hospitals and affiliate rotation sites. While we understand required compliance with state and federal law and internal hospital policy, we steadfastly assert that there is no appropriate presence of ICE in a clinical setting. We have personally witnessed a marked decrease in patient volumes at certain sites since ICE raids and kidnappings began. Patients who fear they could be deemed deportable and detainable right now — regardless of their immigration status — have expressed fear and uncertainty regarding the safety of clinical settings. Across UC sites, patients we care for have reported deliberately missing outpatient visits for serious medical conditions for fear of interactions with immigration authorities at the hospital.
The reports of multiple masked, non-uniformed ICE officials moving outside and inside hospitals has created a hostile and unsafe environment for our patients and staff. Every patient deserves the right to privacy and HIPAA-compliant care during their clinical visit, regardless of whether or not they are in ICE custody. Thus, having ICE agents accompany patients during medical visits inhibits our ability to provide the same quality care that we would provide to any patient that walks through the doors – regardless of their immigration status.
Given the alarming events that occurred at UCLA and affiliate rotation sites this week, we demand that the UC Health system immediately implement the following patient protections:
(1) Develop and disseminate a UC-wide policy and protocol that limits ICE or other federal immigration agents from entering patient care areas, including areas of the hospital that include hallway beds and lobby spaces that are regularly used for patient care. This policy must explicitly disallow ICE agents from actively roaming clinical settings, including but not limited to emergency rooms, inpatient settings, outpatient clinics, and/or hospital common spaces (waiting rooms, lobbies, hallways, etc). Such policies must also include methods for verifying the validity of signed judicial warrants under which patients are being detained prior to entry into a clinical space. Furthermore, ICE agents that come in with patients under custody cannot interact with other patients that are not under custody.
(2) Clearly marked and posted signage and resources for patients in hospital and clinic spaces that outlines patient legal rights and the aforementioned policy and protocols. Specifically, we demand easily accessible and visible proper protocol posted for patients to reference when interacting with ICE agents, federal agents, or law enforcement officers. This includes but is not limited to designation of private areas and specify the minimum number of agents required under law to be permitted. All efforts should be taken to preserve patients’ right to privacy while receiving healthcare. This also includes posted rights of patients under ICE custody or detention to communicate with their legal counsel, as well as for the ability for hospital staff to provide proactive information and referrals to legal and family supports for patients who do not already have such support in place.
(3) Assert a clear policy and protocol to all UC staff regarding interactions with ICE or other federal immigration agents, provision of privacy and appropriate protections to patients, guaranteed rights of patients, and legal protections to staff. Staff as defined above includes but is not limited to clinical staff, security, law enforcement, admin, environment health, facilities.
Given all UC Health Sites’ responsibility to maintain and ensure employee rights and safety, we additionally demand the following workplace protections:
An official communication to all UC Health system staff within the next 2 weeks regarding the development of protocols and policies to be updated, regardless of their readiness, alongside notice of current policies, protections, and rights in line with the requests of the June 11, 2025 Letter directed to your offices by the AFSCME-3299 Union.
(4) Commitment to implementing proactive alert systems for all UC employees, patients, and students when ICE and other federal agents are on-site, regardless of rationale for presence. ICE presence, even when accompanying patients under detention, creates an environment of fear, distrust, and implicit compliance on the part of UC Health with the widespread unlawful attacks by ICE.
(5) Comprehensive training on all policies and protocols, including the newly developed ones outlined above,in line with the training materials and requirements regularly required of staff regarding cybersecurity, anti-racism, sexual harassment, and the like.
The UC Office of the President has failed to fully implement its commitments to protect and defend all members of the UC community—students, patients, and workers—in the face of this brutal campaign.
The Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR-SEIU) at hospitals across the University of California hereby demands that UC administrators, managers, and health systems remain accountable to providing the highest quality care to our patients while protecting the rights and safety of our patients and employees alike.
