The Trump Administration has officially rescinded a 2021 memo from the Department of Homeland Security that restricted immigration enforcement actions in or near protected areas. These areas included medical or mental health care facilities such as hospitals, doctor's office, health clinics, vaccination or testing sites, urgent care centers, sites serving pregnant individuals, or community health centers. Other protected areas included schools, playgrounds, childcare centers, places of worship and domestic violence shelters among others. The policy is not being replaced, and Administration officials said they will instead assume that agents will use "common sense" during enforcement actions. CHA will continue to monitor immigration enforcement actions and provide resources for Catholic health providers responding to them.
Resources
- Treating Fear: Steps to Help Your Immigrant Patients, Health Progress- Fall 2025
- Statement from CHA, Catholic Charities USA and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on the removal of protected areas in immigration enforcement
- Fact sheet from the National Immigration Law Center on protected areas policies
- Messaging guide and recently updated "Know Your Rights" document for various settings including health care providers
- Catholic Charities USA information about the organization and wider Church’s work with migrants
- Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) “Know Your Rights” flyers in several languages for immigration enforcement actions
- Mannatt brief for hospitals: Next Steps Following Removal of Protected Areas Guidance