Minnesota Physicians Sound Alarm Over Healthcare Impacts of Immigration Enforcement
Minnesota physicians are speaking out about the devastating effects of increased federal immigration enforcement on healthcare in the state. Roughly 50 physicians joined Minnesota Sen. Alice Mann and Sen. Matt Klein at a press conference to share their experiences and concerns about the surge in immigration enforcement activity, known as “Operation Metro Surge,” which has brought as many as 3,000 federal officers to the state.
Patients Avoiding Medical Care Due to Fear
Dr. Roli Dwivedi, past president of the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, expressed concern about the level of chaos and fear among patients and healthcare teams, stating, “I have been a practicing physician for more than 19 years here in Minnesota, and I have never seen this level of chaos and fear in healthcare for patients and for our healthcare teams.” Dr. Erin Stevens, legislative chair for the Minnesota section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, noted that patients are “expressing a feeling of being hunted” and are avoiding medical care, including prenatal appointments, due to fear of being targeted by immigration officials.
Dr. Janna Gewirtz O’Brien, president-elect of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, shared that parents are “rightfully scared to come in” and that this fear is resulting in missed medical appointments, including critical care for newborns. She cited examples of babies missing jaundice follow-ups and mothers hesitant to seek medical attention for their children, leading to delayed diagnoses and potentially life-threatening conditions.
Real-Life Consequences of Immigration Enforcement on Healthcare
Dr. Dwivedi shared several disturbing stories of patients who have been impacted by immigration enforcement, including a patient with kidney cancer who was detained and moved to Texas without his medications, a patient with insulin-dependent diabetes who stopped coming to the clinic and was found to be rationing insulin and food, and a pregnant mother who missed her check-up and was found laboring alone at home. These stories highlight the real-life consequences of immigration enforcement on healthcare and the importance of protecting patients’ access to medical care.
Dr. Gewirtz O’Brien also noted that immigration enforcement is affecting not only patients but also hospital staff, with many staff members being from diverse backgrounds and feeling targeted by racial profiling and hate. She emphasized that half of the staff at her hospital are not coming to work due to fear of immigration enforcement, highlighting the significant impact on the healthcare workforce.
Legislative Response and Concerns
When asked about potential legislative fixes, Sen. Klein suggested codifying best practices for interactions between immigration officials and healthcare providers. However, Sen. Mann expressed concerns that federal agents may not follow any laws or guidelines, citing the need to protect patients’ Fourth Amendment rights and ensure that healthcare spaces remain safe and private.
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