Today, Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest introduced the Safe Access to Care Act (S.10494/A. bill number pending) to extend legal and liability protections for healthcare facilities, both public and private, and their workers in order to ensure every New Yorker, regardless of immigration status, has equitable access to healthcare. The bill sponsors introduced the legislation in response to concerns brought by healthcare professionals about the presence of ICE in our health care facilities in violation of patients’ rights.
This bill will ensure that facilities and healthcare workers have the necessary guidance, training, and legal backing to respond to and lawfully decline unauthorized access attempts by ICE.
It would also ensure that patients who arrive already in immigration detention receive the same standard of care as any other person accused of a civil violation, which is a principle rooted in both medical ethics and equal protection under law.
“Every day, our communities face increasing attacks from the federal government, and it is our duty to work tirelessly to protect our neighbors. This legislation, championed by health care workers, will make sure that healthcare facility staff have the training and legal protections they need to feel safe in their workplaces. Our doctors and nurses must be able to focus on what matters most—the care of their patients—while administrative staff should never fear doing their jobs or safeguarding patients’ private health information. This bill is about defending the law, empowering health care workers, and respecting the rights of all New Yorkers,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera.
"Hospitals are places of healing, not staging grounds for immigration enforcement. The Safe Access to Care Act will ensure that healthcare workers have the protections and guidance they need to keep our facilities safe, and that every New Yorker can seek care without fear. As a Brooklyn legislator and a nurse, I will not stand by while our neighbors are forced to choose between their health and their safety,” said Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest
In January 2025, the Trump administration removed longstanding restrictions against immigration enforcement actions in hospitals, clinics, and doctor's offices. This policy shift will force countless New Yorkers to avoid the necessary care in fear of getting arrested at medical appointments or during emergencies.
By enacting this bill, our State will guarantee that healthcare facilities across our State are safe for immigrant New Yorkers by ensuring that all New Yorkers can seek care without fear, and that healthcare workers are equipped and protected when they serve those patients without fear or intimidation.
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