Program Launches to Ensure Undocumented Health Care Access Amidst ICE Fears
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, March 4 2025
Contact: Cabot Petoia, clpetoia@gmail.com, 828-899-9239
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Los Angeles – Today, to ensure undocumented patients can still access health care even amidst ICE activity, St. John’s Community Health – a network of community health centers providing free and low-cost health care in Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, and the Coachella Valley – launched the Health Care Without Fear project, an effort that literally meets patients where they are.
In surveys of their patients – at least 25,000 of whom are undocumented – St. John’s Community Health found that hundreds of patients have cancelled appointments solely due to fear of being apprehended by ICE. About 1/3 of those patients have chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension and were forgoing blood sugar and blood pressure tests, prescription refills, and other critical care.
While these numbers are already notable, St. John’s Community Health assumes the actual number of patients afraid to receive services because of ICE is even higher.
Through the Health Care Without Fear project, the team will individually reach out to all undocumented patients to walk through the safety measures the clinics have put into place, and offer telehealth services to those who don’t need to come in person. For patients who must be seen in person, St. John’s Community Health will disburse a health care team for home visits, and medicine delivery. They are in the process of developing several home visit teams to meet what they anticipate will be a high demand.
The Health Care Without Fear project is yet another way St. John’s Community Health is working to keep patients safe – the clinics have also held many know-your-rights-trainings and have protocols in place to move patients into protected spaces should ICE show up.
“Everyone should be able to go to the doctor, knowing they’ll be able to return home to their families afterwards,” said Jim Mangia, president and CEO of St. John’s Community Health. “All health care providers should be implementing policies to ensure that all patients—regardless of their immigration status—have access to the care they need without fear. Through the Health Care Without Fear project, we are taking proactive steps to meet patients where they are, protect their well-being, and stand up for their right to quality health care. Health care is a human right – we will not allow fear to stand in the way of that.”
