Oakland, CA, June 22, 2019 – President Trump announced plans to deport undocumented immigrants in 10 cities across the country, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, beginning this Sunday. Nationally, the proposed raids led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may target up to 2,000 individuals and family members with a focus on those facing deportation orders, including asylum seekers.
In light of this announcement, the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (CAPH) reminds everyone that the 21 public health care systems across California remain safe places for all who need care. As core safety net providers of health care services in California, public health care systems are committed to ensuring that all individuals, regardless of immigration status, have timely access to affordable, high quality health care services.
“Public health care system providers respect and serve all patients who walk through our doors – this mission stands true regardless of any circumstance,” said Erica Murray, President and CEO of the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems.
“Ongoing deportation threats by the Trump Administration are taking a real toll on the health and well-being of our communities, causing individuals and families to avoid seeking necessary health care services due to fear.”
“We urge the President and the Department of Homeland Security to help facilitate healthy communities, and not dissuade residents from seeking needed care,” said Murray.
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California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (CAPH) represents California’s 21 public health care systems, which include county-affiliated systems and the five University of California academic medical centers. Together, these systems form the core of the state’s health care safety net. Though accounting for just 6% of hospitals in the state, public health care systems operate in 15 counties where more than 80% of the state’s population lives. They provide 40% of all hospital care to California’s remaining uninsured and 35% of all hospital care to Medi-Cal beneficiaries in the communities they serve. These 21 health care systems serve 2.85 million patients annually, operate more than 200 outpatient clinic facilities, and provide more than 10 million outpatient visits each year. They operate more than half of California’s top-level burn and trauma centers, and train more than half of all new doctors in hospitals across the state. For more information, visit
www.caph.org.
