Immigration
The American College of Physicians believes that immigration policies and practices should not interfere with access to health care and opposes policies, such as forced family detentions, that negatively impact health. ACP participates in amicus briefs supporting policies that promote the health and well-being of immigrant communities.
Recent Briefs Filed on Behalf of ACP
Jenny Lisette Flores, et al., v. Pamela Bondi, Attorney General of the United States, et al.
Jenny Lisette Flores, et al., v. Pamela Bondi, Attorney General of the United States, et al.(Filed: 1/28/2026)
In 1997, the United States District Court for the Central District of California approved the Flores Settlement Agreement, establishing nationwide standards for the detention, release, and treatment of minors in immigration detention. The Trump Administration has sought to terminate the agreement and its protections for minors in immigration detention, but in August 2025, a U.S. District Judge rejected the administration’s request. The court found that existing protections remained necessary and that the government had not shown compliance that would justify ending the settlement’s oversight. This decision was appealed by the government, and the case will now be considered by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, where this brief was filed.
ACP has longstanding policy that emphasizes the negative health impact of forced family detentions in immigration cases, and the considerable harm to the physical and mental health of the detained children and other family members resulting from being held in government detention centers while the adults’ immigration status is resolved. In this amicus brief, the interested parties argue that the Flores Settlement Agreement remains essential for the protection of children’s health and well-being.
See additional relevant ACP advocacy in the Access to Care section.