Since January 2025, the Trump Administration has aggressively pursued measures to terrorize, imprison, and deport immigrant members of our community. With each passing day, the threats seem to intensify—immigrants must now wonder whether an interaction with immigration officials will result not only in their detention and deportation, but in their banishment to Guantanamo Bay or a notorious prison in El Salvador.
As part of its agenda to stoke fear in immigrant members of our community, the Administration has threatened to make immigration arrests at sensitive locations, including schools, churches, hospitals and other medical facilities—rescinding three decades of protections against immigration enforcement at these sacred spaces. This move—which is the subject of ongoing legal action ––has left many community members afraid to access essential services, including healthcare. For healthcare providers, the possibility of immigration enforcement in emergency rooms, clinics, and doctor’s offices creates serious uncertainty about how to provide care to immigrant patients and their loved ones.
Fortunately, Oregon healthcare facilities can take steps now to prepare for potential immigration enforcement, thus making healthcare more accessible for immigrant patients and their loved ones and empowering healthcare providers to continue providing needed preventative and life-saving care to their patients. This toolkit offers a starting point to help Oregon healthcare facilities strengthen their policies and practices so that all Oregonians can access healthcare in an environment where they feel safe and welcome. More recommended resources can also be found here.
This toolkit provides general information relevant to Oregon medical facilities. It does not provide legal advice. Healthcare facility personnel should consult with counsel as they develop policies and guidance for responding to immigration enforcement.
