Health Access Statement on ICE

Health Access opposes the violent invasion of our cities and communities by ICE and other military and law enforcement. ICE is an inherently violent organization, whose presence in our cities and communities stokes fear and makes us less safe. We oppose the proposal in Congress to continue to fund ICE, and we will oppose any proposals that target individuals based on their immigration status, race, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, disability, or other status. While much of our day-to-day work is focused on solving problems in our health care system, our vision for a healthier California is incompatible with immigration enforcement that tears families apart, terrorizes communities, murders lawful protestors, and prevents our neighbors from accessing the care they need out of fear. Our organizational values require that we stand up for justice and for the safety of all people. In this moment, we must also remember that H.R. 1 gave billions of dollars to ICE while gutting our health care system, doubling down on the harms to vulnerable communities. Many of the ICE officers on the streets, the relentless ICE recruiting ads, and the regime of terror, are being funded through cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, Covered California, and programs that millions of Californians rely on.

That is why, this Friday, January 30th, Health Access will join hundreds of organizations across the country in participating in a National Shutdown. We can’t abide business as usual while ICE runs rampant in our streets.

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