Guards assigned to immigration matters found stationed at a hospital in Glendale, triggering condemnation by officials concerned about the detainee's welfare.
In a Glendale hospital, two guards, linked to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), have been stationed in the lobby for a week, monitoring a woman patient. The guards, dressed in green-army attire and identified as Detention Officers, have sparked controversy among nurses, state lawmakers, and patient advocates, who find their presence intimidating and believe it infringes on patient privacy.
The woman in question, Milagro Carolina Solis-Portillo, is an El Salvador national who was arrested by federal agents and later admitted to the hospital after a medical emergency during transport. Solis-Portillo alleges she was treated inhumanely during her arrest, including being yelled at as she began vomiting. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, however, disputes this characterization, stating that they responded to Solis-Portillo's medical condition.
ICE agents are typically stationed in hospitals to apprehend individuals who are targets of immigration enforcement actions. In Solis-Portillo's case, she has been removed from the United States twice and has a history of crimes, including false identification, theft, and burglary, according to McLaughlin. However, Lynn Damiano Pearson, senior staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center, questions whether Solis-Portillo poses a threat to public safety and states that immigration officials cannot enter private areas in a hospital without a warrant.
The presence of ICE agents in hospitals can create a hostile environment, raising concerns about patient confidentiality and safety. Nurses and patient advocates argue that the presence of ICE agents creates a hostile environment, making patients fearful of seeking medical care. This can lead to delayed or avoided treatments, exacerbating health issues. There are ongoing debates about the legality and ethics of using hospitals as places for immigration enforcement, with advocacy groups arguing that such practices undermine trust in healthcare systems and violate the principle that hospitals should be safe spaces for everyone.
California state Senator Sasha Reneé Pérez plans to back legislation to ensure immigration agents do not enter private areas of hospital facilities. Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital cannot legally restrict law enforcement or security personnel from being present in public areas, which include the hospital lobby/waiting area.
The guards have not identified themselves to the media when asked. If Solis-Portillo has been removed from the U.S. twice, she may be subject to expedited removal by the government without additional court proceedings, according to Pearson. The case highlights the complex and contentious issues surrounding immigration enforcement in healthcare settings, and the ongoing debate about the balance between public safety and patient privacy.
- The controversy over the presence of two guards linked to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at a Glendale hospital persists, as they are stationed in the lobby, monitoring Milagro Carolina Solis-Portillo, an El Salvador national with a history of crimes.
- Solis-Portillo, who was arrested by federal agents and later admitted to the hospital, alleges she was treated inhumanely during her arrest and claims the guards dressed in green-army attire are intimidating.
- DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin disputes Solis-Portillo's characterization, stating they responded to her medical condition, but Lynn Damiano Pearson, senior staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center, questions whether Solis-Portillo poses a threat to public safety.
- Nurses and patient advocates argue that the presence of immigration agents such as ICE in hospitals creates a hostile environment, potentially leading to delayed or avoided treatments, and violating the principle that hospitals should be safe spaces for everyone.
- California state Senator Sasha Reneé Pérez plans to back legislation to ensure immigration agents do not enter private areas of hospital facilities. However, Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital cannot legally restrict law enforcement or security personnel from being present in public areas.
- The case of Solis-Portillo highlights the complex and contentious issues surrounding immigration enforcement in healthcare settings, with ongoing debates about the balance between public safety, patient privacy, and the sanctity of hospitals as safe spaces for all.
