When the patient called, he could only speak a few words at a time — he was drowning in his own lungs and feared for his life. He needed to go to the emergency room, but he refused. His wife is undocumented and they were terrified she’d be detained or deported if she drove him to the hospital. This fear nearly cost him his life.
Their fear is not unique — and it’s a growing concern for physicians like us. We are internal medicine physicians practicing hospital medicine and primary care in Aurora.
We see how ramped up ICE activity and threats of enforcement in or around health care settings puts lives at risk. We’ve seen countless people delay care, cancel appointments and suffer in silence.
These fears are not unfounded. For more than a decade, ICE was directed to avoid enforcement at “sensitive locations” like schools, hospitals and churches — a long-standing recognition that some spaces must remain safe and accessible. But with the elimination of these protections by Trump under a recent executive order, our patients are once again forced to choose between health care and safety.
No one should have to choose between seeking life-saving care and their freedom. That’s why we are urging the Colorado legislature to pass Senate Bill 276, known as the Protect Civil Rights Immigration Status bill, which has cleared the Senate and has been assigned to the House Judiciary committee.
Senate Bill 276 would reinforce constitutional rights for vulnerable patients when they are receiving medical care at public hospitals and clinics by requiring ICE to present a warrant to enter nonpublic areas of these critical locations.
As physicians, we take an oath to do no harm. But when our patients skip or delay medical care out of fear of deportation, we see the harm unfold in real time. Treatable illnesses become emergencies and preventable conditions spiral into hospitalizations.
One major study found that patients with fewer regular visits with a primary care provider visited the emergency room and were admitted to the hospital more often. The consequences are not only devastating for families — they drive up costs and create needless strain on physicians in the health care system.
Community-based clinics, which care for under- and uninsured patients regardless of immigration status, are hit hardest. At health centers across Denver and Aurora, providers like us see rising cancellations and hear growing anxiety from patients.
People are afraid to walk through the clinic doors. Some ask for telehealth-only visits, even when in-person care is critical to their health. The fear is palpable — and it’s compromising the quality of care and undermining trust in the health care system.
The fear created by immigration enforcement has a rippling effect — it spreads through families and entire communities. In mixed-status households, where some family members are undocumented while others are U.S. citizens or legal residents, fear often keeps everyone from seeking care.
Parents skip checkups for their children. People avoid clinics even when they are sick, out of fear that one visit could put a loved one at risk.
Fear spreads faster than facts — and when that fear keeps people from seeking medical help, it undermines the health and safety of our entire community.
The fear created by the threat of ICE entering hospitals and clinics is harming our patients and the well-being of our entire community. It’s time to do something about it.
Dr. Beret Fitzgerald of Denver is an internal medicine physician who practices as a hospitalist in Aurora.
Dr. Apoorva Ram of Denver is an internal medicine physician who practices as a primary care physician in Aurora.
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Type of Story: Opinion
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