"Show Your Papers” Before Health Treatment

This bill prohibits any funds of this state, any county, village, town, long-term care district, any subdivision of this state, or any subdivision or agency of any county, city, village, or town and any federal funds passing through the state treasury from being authorized for or paid to any person to subsidize, reimburse, or otherwise provide compensation for any health care services for an individual who is not lawfully present in the United States.

Since taking office, the Trump Administration has spread fear and chaos by stripping people of their immigration status and work authorization in unprecedented ways and with little to no notice. If enacted, the sweeping nature of this legislation could result in absurd circumstances for medical and mental health providers across the state and exacerbate this fear and uncertainty experienced by our immigrant neighbors.

Do we want to live in a state where every time a child visits a school nurse’s office or local EMS responds to a 911 call, service providers are forced to say, “Show me your papers and then I will treat you”?