Grimm Quoted on Immigration Enforcement Impact on Hospitals and Health Care

The new rules allow Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) more leeway to detain individuals, causing hospitals and health systems to seek legal guidance advice on what is permissible.

Douglas said, “The judicial warrant needs to be specific as to the place and who you’re looking for. It’s not going to say you can just walk into the ICU and check everybody.”

If a warrant is present, then ICE agents can access private areas, such as patient rooms. If this happens, Douglas suggested that facilities prepare to wipe whiteboards and remove all medical records, on paper or screens, from view.

Douglas also noted that if an officer enters a patient’s room while a second agent wanders the halls, the nurse manager or compliance manager need to orally point out the officer is not authorized to be anywhere but with the specific patient.

“If the officer keeps walking, you have to take the next step, which is just try and record that. But don’t try and impede their progress,” he said.

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