Immigration Resources for Providers
Statement on EthnoMed Supporting the Care of Refugees
EthnoMed.org is a program within Harborview Medical Center which is owned by the people of King County, Washington and operated by the University of Washington. As State funded entities we are careful to remain distant from, and neutral on legislative action and political endorsements. However,one in five people in the City of Seattle are born abroad and are immigrants, and 15% of the people housed on the medical and surgical services at Harborview at any given time require interpreter services. This website exists solely to support the care of immigrants and refugees, especially those routinely encountered at Harborview Medical Center. Consequently, we must be clear about policy at any level that threatens the health and well being of children, families, and our patients. The vilification of immigrants, and particularly Muslim refugees, has been accompanied by random spontaneous acts of aggression toward employees of airports and hospitals and on the streets. Delays in diagnoses, missed appointments and delays in care, failed communication, exacerbation of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and diabetes all result from heightened fear about moving with caution through public spaces in an atmosphere of tension and anxiety. EthnoMed.org will identify and report on public policies harming immigrant communities, and provide advocacy for immigrants and refugees, including programmatic services that support refugee families. This is in keeping with our mission to improve the health of refugees and immigrants and our values of patient centered public health and medicine.
US Immigration Policy & Immigrants
Care for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Community
Anti-Immigrant Sentiment
Resources for providers to help address anti-immigrant behaviors and related fear/stress their patients may be experiencing.
Migrant Children and Health
Information, resources and fact sheets about the health issues of migrant children entering the U.S. There have been claims and concerns over health risks from migrant children crossing borders. Misinformation about the health of migrant children when there is no significant health threat is a medical issue. This page provides background information, resources and fact sheets about the issue of migrant health.
Health Care Providers and Immigration Enforcement: Know Your and Your Patients’ Rights
The threat of increased federal immigration enforcement has raised concerns among immigrant families, some of whom may decide to forego necessary medical services out of fear that they could be putting themselves and their family members at risk. This factsheet from the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) provides advice to hospitals, medical centers, community health centers, other health care facilities, and advocates on how to prepare for and respond to (a) enforcement actions by immigration officials and (b) interactions with law enforcement that could result in immigration consequences for their patients.
Related Content:
- The Northwest Health Law Advocates: Responding to Immigrants' and Refugees' Fears About Health Care
- Making a Case for Sanctuary Hospitals - JAMA article by Saadi A, Ahmed S, Katz MH. 2017;318(21):2079–2080. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.15714
- Immigration Reform and Legal Challenges - A recorded presentation outlining legal actions underway to legally challenge governmental hostility toward vulnerable immigrants
- The American Civil Liberties Union: Know Your Rights information distinguishing judicial warrant from ICE warrant
- Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign Resources: A campaign, co-chaired by the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) that brings together leading advocates for immigrants, children, education, health, anti-hunger and anti-poverty groups, and faith leaders, to defend against threats that restrict the ability of low-income immigrant families and their U.S. citizen children to access basic programs that safeguard their health care, nutrition, housing, and economic security.
Immigration and Citizenship
Resources for Providers doing Medical Certifications and CIS Disability Waivers
Information related to completing the N-648 Form, Glossaries of Terms, Links to US Citizenship and Information Services (USCIS) and other resources to help health care providers serve refugee/immigrant populations.
