Immigration Enforcement & Healthcare | | What Pediatricians Need to Know | | |
Dear colleagues,
This is a time of deep fear and uncertainty for many in our state, as we continue to recover from the recent wildfires and cope with the effects of Presidential Executive Orders on our practices, our patients, and our communities.
On January 20th, the Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security released a memo rescinding the Biden administration’s memo limiting immigration enforcement activities at or near protected areas such as medical and mental health care sites, schools, places of worship, among others, and replaced it with a directive to law enforcement officers at Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection to use their discretion “along with a healthy dose of common sense.”
Children and families are fearful and anxious, which could result in chronic stress, somatic symptoms, and not attending school. In addition, the threat of immigration enforcement in clinical settings can result in missed appointments and delays in care. Here is more from National Immigration Law Center on the current policy: NILC Factsheet: Trump’s Rescission of Protected Areas Policies Undermines Safety for All.
We are fortunate in California to have two pediatrician leaders as members of our district and residents of our state: AAP Council on Immigrant Child and Family Health (COICFH) leaders Drs. Raul Gutierrez and Sural Shah. They have been working with the Council to compile a suite of resources (some of which I’ve shared below) to help us navigate new and evolving dynamics on the ground that are impacting our communities:
The COICFH email address is ImmigrantHealth@aap.org for those who wish to contact the national council. To join COICFH please go to the COICFH membership page. This is the best way to stay up to date with current tools and recommendations.
If you see examples of ways that immigrant families in your communities are being impacted by this new environment, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here for you and remain committed to ensuring that all children, including immigrant children, can feel safe and supported in our state. If you want to report immigration enforcement, the National Immigrant Legal Responders Alliance (NILRA) is accepting reports for tracking purposes. You can report anonymously, but NILRA can follow up if you provide your contact info.

Thank you for all you do for the health of all the children here in California.
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Eric Ball, MD, FAAP
Chair, AAP District IX (California)
| | AAP Statement from President Susan J. Kressly! | | |
In an AAP statement issued Tuesday, President Susan J. Kressly, M.D., FAAP, said many of the actions taken this week by the Trump administration will bring “fear and hardship” to immigrant children and families and that the Academy “opposes any policies that are detrimental to children’s health and well-being.”
“As pediatricians, our number one priority is the health and safety of all children — including children in immigrant families,” Dr. Susan J. Kressly said.
| | Beyond Borders: A Pediatrician's Call to Protect Immigrant Children | | |
Dr. Isabel Fernandez, MD, PhD, a pediatric resident at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, shares her deep concern about the new policies that threaten immigrant families’ access to healthcare. She describes how these actions will create a climate of fear, deterring parents from seeking care for their children.
"It is our collective responsibility to provide a framework for solutions, to build a future where all children, regardless of where they were born, can reach their full potential," Dr. Isabel Fernandez said.
| | Best Practices for Inclusive Care | | |
Find resources to help you make your health care setting more welcoming, inclusive, and safe for immigrants and refugees. This resource, developed and maintained by a coalition of healthcare providers in the Bay Area, is designed to support healthcare professionals working with immigrant families. The goal is to serve as an accurate, up-to-date, and easily navigable source of information on immigration policy, its impact on health, and best practices for those in the healthcare field.
Find resources for . . .
| | EveryoneBelongsHere Series is Next Thursday! | | Immigrant Health in the Bay Area - Know Your Rights for Healthcare Providers | | |
Creating welcoming, inclusive and safer health care for immigrants and refugees! EveryoneBelongsHere is a series of educational talks offering skills, tools and a space for conversation to support the health and wellbeing of out immigrant community. Join us March 27 from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M.

Date: Thursday, Mar. 27
Time: 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M PDT
Location: via Zoom
Event Page
| | Inform The Families in Your Practice! | | Family Preparedness Plan: ILRC's Step-by-Step Guide | | This is a step-by-step guide to help you prepare for emergencies and protect your family. It covers how to create a child care plan, understand your immigration options, and know your rights if approached by ICE. Learn what documents to have ready, who to contact in an emergency, and how to stay informed. Taking these steps now can help ensure your loved ones are safe and prepared. | |
I. Make a Child Care Plan
- Choose a trusted caregiver & discuss a plan.
- Consider a Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit (CAA) for legal decision-making.
- Ensure your children have valid passports.
II. Know Your Immigration Options
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Seek trusted legal help: Find Legal Services
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Verify attorneys & DOJ-accredited representatives before taking legal advice. 👉
III. Know Your Rights
- If ICE is at your door: Do NOT open unless they have a signed warrant.
- Remain silent: You don’t have to answer questions.
- Never sign anything before speaking to a lawyer.
- Carry only safe documents (no false IDs or foreign passports).
IV. Addendums
- Memorize emergency contacts & have legal documents accessible.
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Keep a Know Your Rights Red Card at home: Download Here
đź’ˇ Stay informed. Stay prepared. Stay protected.
| | Empower the Families You Serve! | | |
This Know Your Rights Guide from the National Immigration Law Center provides essential information on what to do if you are stopped, arrested, or detained by immigration or other law enforcement.
Stay Silent – You are not required to answer questions about your immigration status.
Do Not Sign Anything – Without speaking to a lawyer, do not sign documents that may affect your case.
Request a Lawyer – You have the right to legal representation, but the government will not provide one.
Know Your Rights – In most cases, you have the right to a hearing before a judge.
| | Ensure Families Have Access to Care! | | Health Insurance & Care Rights | | Everyone—regardless of immigration status—has the right to health care in the U.S. Many families worry about applying for health insurance or seeking medical care, but federal laws protect your privacy and access to care. | |
You have the right to medical care – Hospitals must provide emergency treatment, and community health centers offer services regardless of status or ability to pay.
You do NOT need a Social Security number (SSN) – Only those applying for coverage for themselves may be required to provide an SSN.
Health insurance applications are private – Your information cannot be shared for immigration enforcement purposes.
You have the right to an interpreter – Hospitals and clinics must provide free language assistance.
More options may be available in your state – Some states offer free or low-cost health insurance to children, pregnant individuals, and low-income residents, regardless of status.
đź“Ś Find Health Services Near You:
| | Helpful Tools for Families in Your Practice! | | Resources: Know Your RIGHTS with ICE | |
🔗 Home Raid Preparedness Guide – a
step-by-step guide to help you prepare and protect your rights in case of an immigration raid at home.
🔗 Informed Immigrant – A resource hub with legal, financial, and mental health support for immigrants and their families.
🔗 National Immigration Law Center – Advocating for immigrant rights through policy, litigation, and education to promote justice and equality.
🔗 Immigrants Rising – Empowering undocumented communities with education, entrepreneurship, and career resources to build a brighter future.
| | Recursos: Enterate De Tus Derechos! | |
đź”— GuĂa de PreparaciĂłn para Operativos Domiciliarios de ICE – Una guĂa paso a paso para ayudarle a prepararse y proteger sus derechos en caso de una redada de inmigraciĂłn en su hogar.
🔗 Informado Immigrante – Un centro de recursos con apoyo legal, financiero y de salud mental para inmigrantes y sus familias.
đź”—Centro Nacional de Ley de InmigraciĂłn – Defendiendo los derechos de los inmigrantes a travĂ©s de polĂticas, litigios y educaciĂłn para promover la justicia y la igualdad.
🔗 Immigrants Rising – Empoderando a las comunidades indocumentadas con recursos educativos, de emprendimiento y desarrollo profesional para construir un futuro mejor.
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Your membership makes a difference for children in California, thank you!
The AAPCA1's ability to advocate on behalf of children is only as strong as the support we receive from our members. Encourage your colleagues to join today by visiting the AAPCA1 website.
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Our mission is to promote the optimal health and development of children and
adolescents of Northern California in partnership with their families and communities, and to support the pediatricians who care for them.
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President: Nikki Webb • Vice President: Neel Patel
Secretary: Resham Kaur • Treasurer: Amita Saxena • Past President: Nelson Branco
Executive Director: Yolanda Ruiz
Project Coordinator: Sana Sayyid • Marketing Assistant: Arathzy Portillo
| | California Chapter 1, American Academy of Pediatrics | www.aapca1.org | info@aapca1.org| 916-274-4173 | | | | |
