By Isabell Ortega
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Monday unanimously approved a motion directing the County’s Department of Health Services, Mental Health, and Children and Family Services to collaborate with the Executive Director of the Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA).
The motion comes after Supervisor Holly Mitchell recently visited the MLK Hospital Emergency Room and was shocked at the overflow of patients.
While existing state law already protects immigrants seeking medical care, the Federal government recently rescinded previous policy guidance that prohibited immigration enforcement in “sensitive areas” such as hospitals, schools, and churches.
“Now, more than ever, I believe it’s important that our immigrant communities know that the county remains committed to providing health and social services, regardless of your immigration status, and critical to that is also supporting messaging, so that the public remains informed on the health and social services, which they are all,” said Supervisor Hilda Solis, who put the motion forward along with Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
Horvath pointed to an occurrence in her district where on the fourth of July, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided a West Hollywood car wash, and one of the employees who was detained and deported has been a resident of the community for over 30 years. He was forced to leave behind his wife, five children and five grandchildren, and he had his family’s rent money on him when he was taken, she said.
“Families are staying home, too afraid to go to work, to school or even access vital health care or social services,” said Horvath.
According to the language in the motion, “California could be the target of immigration enforcement, and there have already been horrifying cases of such enforcement in the country, such as 10-year-old girl with brain cancer being detained and deported while on her way to the hospital for emergency medical treatment in Houston, TX.”
Horvath said the motion clearly shows that the County remains committed to providing health and social services to all residents, regardless of immigration status.
“Our county departments have expanded access to telehealth and virtual services to ensure residents can get the care and support they need, even from their homes when possible. That’s a good start, but we must build on it,” said Horvath.
