Immigration Enforcement Impact on Public Health

The American College of Physicians is committed to addressing racial disparities in health and health care by confronting the prejudice that drives discrimination, inequities, violence, and hate crimes. Because immigrant communities often face discrimination, harassment, and violence, ACP identifies these harms as public health issues.

Immigration policy should not interfere with physicians’ and other health care professionals’ ethical and professional obligation to care for the sick and should not foster discrimination against a class or category of patients in the provision of health care. Access to care and patient safety are foundational to the practice of medicine and the health of our communities across the nation. Policies and actions that restrict access to care or undermine the patient–physician relationship place patients at risk and compromise ethical medical practice.

ACP advocates for evidence-based policies to reduce disproportionate harm to racial and ethnic communities and upholds longstanding principles: physicians’ ethical duty to care for all, society’s obligation to ensure equitable and universal access to health care, and the need for ongoing U.S. health reform to expand access.

ACP affirms health as a human right grounded in the dignity and equality of all patients and emphasizes that strengthening patient–physician relationships and building health systems that ensure equitable access can help the United States better respect, protect, and fulfill everyone’s opportunity for health.

ACP’s Ethics Manual emphasizes medical and professional ethics based on the principles that include the duty to promote good and act in the best interest of the patient; respect for patient autonomy; the duty to do no harm to the patient; and a duty to protect and foster a patient’s free, uncoerced choices.

ACP stands in opposition to policies and actions that contribute to harm or interfere with the delivery of medically appropriate care. ACP is committed to supporting physicians and other health care professionals as they prioritize patient care and patient safety and uphold professional ethics and integrity.

Related ACP Policies

Physician Resources

Below are resources for ACP members to help support their ability to counsel and care for patients and connect them to trusted resources.

*988 Support in English, Spanish and translation to over 150 languages

Patient Resources*

*Sharing of these resources does not constitute or imply endorsement by ACP.

State Advocacy Assistance

ACP staff are available to help with state advocacy efforts, on immigration and other issues. If you are interested in engaging in state-level advocacy, please reach out to your ACP Chapter Governor and/or Health and Public Policy Committee chair to let them know and to help determine if there is interest from others. We also have a brief questionnaire available on our website for individual members to submit their ideas and questions related to our advocacy.