Resources for Physicians & Health Facilities Responding to Immigration Issues October 23, 2025 Immigration Rights Resources 0 San Francisco Rapid Response Immigration Enforcement Issues & Legal Assistance Hotline: 415-200-1548 Marin County Rapid Response Immigration Enforcement Issues & Legal Assistance Hotline: 415-991-4545 Background: In December 2024, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued updated guidance for health care facilities summarizing relevant legal considerations and policy recommendations when responding to immigration issues. SFMMS is gathering and organizing additional resources for our membership on this issue. Resources will be updated regularly. If you have resources to share with your physicians colleagues that are not included below, please send them to membership@sfmms.org. Healthcare Settings and Hospitals: CMA Resource: Guidance for Health Facilities Responding to Immigration Issues The California Primary Care Association has published Immigration Guidance information for health centers to guide any potential interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). DHCS IMMIGRATION CHART The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has created a chart that displays immigration statuses and categories along with an explanation on how recent Medi-Cal changes affect eligibility. Check out the Immigration Chart to become familiar with how it works, so you can effectively assist and educate program participants on its use. Health Care Providers and Immigration Enforcement: Know Your Rights, Know Your Patients’ Rights, NILC, December 2024 The threat of immigration enforcement raises concerns among immigrant families, some of whom may forego necessary medical services out of fear that they could be putting themselves and their family members at risk. This factsheet provides advice to hospitals, medical centers, community health centers, other health care facilities, and advocates on how to prepare for and respond to (a) enforcement actions by immigration officials and (b) interactions with law enforcement that could result in immigration consequences for their patients Sample ED Protocol for Interactions with Federal Immigration Officers, Adapted from NILC, 2020 Information for health care providers on how to prepare for and respond to enforcement actions by immigration officials and interactions with law enforcement. Originally published in April 2017. Emergency Department Immigration Advocacy Toolkit, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, April 2024, Sponsored by the Social Emergency Medicine & Population Health Interest Group, the Immigration Advocacy Toolkit is designed to provide information, guidance, and resources to emergency department clinicians, staff, and operations teams to give welcoming and person-centered emergency care to immigrants. This resource can be used to develop a more immigration-informed emergency department that supports a variety of needs for immigrants who seek care in the ED. Promoting Safe and Secure Healthcare Access for All, California Attorney General, December 2024, The purpose of this guide is to assist California healthcare facilities in complying with California law and to equip personnel with the information and resources necessary to continue to provide healthcare to all California residents. This guidance implements the California Legislature’s decision to limit state and local participation in immigration- enforcement activities. Everyone Belongs Here: Resource (including a toolkit) was created and is maintained by a coalition of healthcare providers in the Bay Area to support healthcare professionals working with immigrant families. Their goal is to provide an accurate, up to date and easily navigable source of information on immigration policy, its effects on health, and best practices for those working in healthcare. Local Ordinances & Legal Resources: San Francisco Sanctuary City Ordinance: SF.gov, 1989. The Sanctuary Ordinance generally prohibits City employees from using City funds or resources to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the enforcement of Federal immigration law unless such assistance is required by federal or state law. SF Rapid Response Network: Local immigration rights community-based organizations staff this 24-hour hotline. They will conduct an immediate ICE raid verification and attorney activation. City & County of San Francisco Immigrant Services and Resources: Immigrant Services and Resources helps immigrants, asylees, refugees and service providers connect to resources, opportunities, and more. Undocumented Californians aged 19 and older who currently do not receive Medi-Cal can no longer sign up for full Medi-Cal health coverage There are exceptions for undocumented foster youth up to age 26 and for pregnant people. Current program participants can keep full-scope coverage as long as they complete their renewal and are otherwise eligible. Those who did not complete their renewal and are discontinued have 90 days to complete the process to get their full Medi-Cal coverage back. Individuals can apply and renew CalFresh in one of these ways: 🌐Online: BenefitsCal.com 📱By phone: (415) 557-5000 📍In person at an SFHSA Service Center: 1235 Mission Street | 1440 Harrison Street | 3120 Mission Street. | 2 Gough Street National Immigrant Legal Responders Alliance (NILRA) Enforcement and Raid Reporting Form: NILRA is accepting reports for tracking purposes. You can report anonymously, but NILRA can follow up if you provide your contact info. Marin Health and Human Services and other community-based organizations are providing red cards from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) to patients and clients. Marin County also has Rapid Response Networks, which are 24/7 hotlines for reporting ICE activity. Bilingual dispatchers will answer and respond to calls by activating Legal Observers in real time to verify the reported ICE activity. Know Your Rights ACLU - Know Your Rights National Immigration Justice Center - If You're Arrested or Detained by ICE Asian Law Caucus - Know Your Rights Immigrant Justice - Know Your Rights/Encountering ICE Immigrant Legal Resource Center - Know Your Rights Red Cards Immigrant Legal Resource Center - Family Preparedness Plan Reimagine Richmond - Know Your Rights Find a Loved One ICE Detainee Locator USA.gov - Detainee Locator Explainer National Immigration Law Center - How to Find a Loved One Detained Comments are closed.
