In an impassioned discussion with the ABC7 I-Team after she was handcuffed by federal agents at Humboldt Park Hospital, Chicago Alderperson Jesse Fuentes said patients, regardless of immigration status, must feel safe at healthcare institutions.
Chicago-area hospital administrators are speaking out as new legislation is proposed to help medical facilities respond to immigration operations.
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Ald. Fuentes was handcuffed by federal agents during an immigration operation and led to a waiting vehicle after asking those still unidentified agents if they had a warrant for an injured suspect brought by them to Humboldt Park Hospital.
“The second those handcuffs hit my wrist. I was extremely nervous for what was going to happen next,” Ald. Fuentes told the I-Team. “What trumped up charges would they try to attach.”
Fuentes was later released without being charged. But as community members rushed to the hospital for support, federal agents unleashed tear gas.
The 26th Ward alderperson says the incident highlights a growing concern of spaces once considered safe from immigration enforcement are now targets.
Chicago Ald. Jessie Fuentes spoke out after being handcuffed by immigration agents at a hospital in Humboldt Park.
Community Health, down the street from her office, is on soft lockdown to protect patient privacy in hopes of eliminating some of the fear created by the incident for those seeking care.
The I-Team has confirmed immigration agents have appeared at Rush Oak Park Hospital, Loyola Medicine in Maywood, and Humboldt Park Hospital among others during the course of operations. They say they have law enforcement engagement protocols in place.
“Privacy and the rights of patients when they enter a healthcare institution. All of these policies that we have in place, have been violated,” said José Sánchez, Humboldt Park Health President and CEO.
Sánchez tells the I-Team immigration agents never identified themselves to hospital staff and followed the patient, their suspect, into the emergency room where he was receiving treatment, which is a violation of federal privacy law.
“People do have rights, and we will continue to exercise our practices of welcoming everyone in our community,” said Sánchez. “We are not rejecting anybody, regardless of ethnicity, background, status and the country you have a health condition, come to us. We’re going to treat you, perhaps, if I need to be arrested because of my values, then I let it be.”
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Both Sánchez and Fuentes say they are supportive of legislation to protect hospitals from immigration enforcement on the premises. Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights plans to introduce protective legislation in Springfield. Earlier this week, a similar bill was introduced.
“Our utmost the goal with this legislation is to protect patient privacy and their ability to be able to access needed health care,” said Luvia Quinones, Senior Director of Health Policy, ICIRR.
Alderperson Fuentes says she is reviewing her legal options ahead of a potential lawsuit against ICE.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a statement to the I-Team in part, “Fuentes was escorted out in handcuffs but never placed under arrest. Once agents removed her from the area, she was free to go. The tear gas was deployed after multiple warnings when agents were, according to them, boxed in by vehicles.”
