What to do if ICE visits your practice: A 7-step readiness plan

Immigration enforcement activity in and around hospitals has drawn widening pushback in recent weeks, with clinicians and privacy advocates warning it can chill patients from seeking care and complicate how frontline staff protect medical information. In one snapshot of the shifting landscape, Axios reported that health systems have been revisiting access rules and staff protocols as enforcement activity and fears ripple through emergency departments and other clinical settings.

The American Medical Association has joined that chorus, saying it is “deeply concerned” by reports of enforcement activity near hospitals and emergency rooms and warning that fear “impedes the ability of physicians to render care” and undermines basic trust in health care institutions, according to a statement from AMA Board of Trustees Chair David H. Aizuss, M.D.

For outpatient practices, especially those employing international clinicians or serving immigrant communities, the debate has a practical edge: What should a front desk do if ICE shows up unannounced, what documents matter, and what protections still apply? Immigration attorney Katie P. Russell, a partner at Brown Immigration Law in Cleveland, says the safest approach is to treat readiness as a compliance issue, not a crisis response; with clear roles, staff training and a plan that protects patients and employees without overstepping legal bounds.

Listen and learn more

For a deeper dive into how medical practices can prepare for an unexpected ICE visit, listen to Russell’s full interview on the Off the Chart podcast. She explains real-world scenarios, common legal pitfalls and ways to train staff to stay calm when enforcement agents arrive.