We’ve launched a resource library to help healthcare providers (and everyone else) feel prepared to address immigration concerns with their patients, their staff, their employers, and in their daily lives.
We want this community to feel empowered to protect their family, friends, patients, and the most vulnerable members of the public. It is crucial that immigrants and their families feel safe accessing healthcare in Nebraska.
Does your employer have a patient protection policy in place? Do the staff at your clinic or hospital know what to do if law enforcement request access to patients or their medical records?
Our Immigration Enforcement Resource Library is a public-access Google Drive folder containing downloadable and printable resources collected from both local and national organizations working for the advancement of healthcare advocacy and/or the rights of immigrants in their communities. We thank all of the organizations represented for their commitment to social justice and their tangible efforts towards ensuring the rights and dignity all people.
The Resource Library is divided into three main sections, each with their own folders:
- General Resources: This folder contains resources that will be accessible to and useful for the general public (including healthcare providers). Documents include “Know Your Rights” guides and preparedness plans for immigrant families. These resources cover various scenarios, including interactions with law enforcement and ICE in homes, public places, workplaces, and vehicles, as well as rights during state and ICE custody and removal proceedings. Key topics include the right to remain silent, sample warrants, safety planning checklists (for individuals, couples, parents, and property owners), and information on finding qualified immigration attorneys. Spanish versions of multiple documents have been included where available.
- Resources for Healthcare Providers and Facilities: This folder contains resources specifically designed to help healthcare providers and their places of employment prepare for encounters with law enforcement and ICE, and how to protect their patients who may fear such encounters. Documents include model policies, employee training guides, printable materials, and more. The section addresses patient privacy (HIPAA), responding to ICE/CBP requests for access or information, and the concept of “sanctuary hospitals.” It also provides resources for pediatricians regarding the health and well-being of immigrant children, addressing mental health, family separation, and community resources.
- Academic Resources: This folder contains reports and articles from various organizations and journals designed to provide more in-depth and/or quantitative information about the intersection of health and immigration in the United States. These documents present research and analysis on the impact of immigration policies on immigrant families’ daily lives, well-being, and health, including issues like fear, toxic stress, and barriers to healthcare access.
- A separate document contains links to additional resources, including instructional videos, webinars, and local legal assistance hotlines.
We hope you will take some time to review the resources we have put together, implement the guidance in your daily lives and medical practices, and pass them along to family, friends, and colleagues seeking to be more informed and prepared.
If you have suggestions for additions to the library, please send them our way at contact@nebraskaallianceforphysicianadvocacy.org.