Ensuring Safe Access to Medical Care for All Patients January 23, 2026 Hot Topics The Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association (ACCMA) is deeply concerned by reports out of Minneapolis and around the U.S. of immigration enforcement actions that interfere with the delivery of medical care and contribute to fear, trauma, and avoidance of health care services among patients and communities. Our foremost obligations as physicians are to protect patient health, preserve the integrity of the physician-patient relationship, and ensure that individuals can seek medically necessary care without fear of harm, detention, or reprisal. Previously adopted ACCMA policy affirms that access to affordable, quality health care should be available to all persons, regardless of immigration status, and that immigration enforcement should be ethical, compassionate, and carried out in ways that minimize psychological and physical harm. Consistent with California Medical Association (CMA) policy, ACCMA opposes the use of clinical settings or patient medical information for immigration enforcement purposes and rejects practices that undermine trust in the health care system or deter patients from seeking care. ACCMA urges law enforcement agencies to conduct immigration enforcement activities in a manner consistent with established legal standards, professional norms, and public health considerations. Enforcement actions should respect due process, minimize trauma, and preserve the integrity of health care settings. Enforcement actions should not interfere with the delivery of medical care, compromise patient confidentiality, or create conditions that deter individuals from seeking necessary health services. Health care is a human right, and health care spaces should be safe for everyone. In California, state law reflects these principles. Recent statutory changes strengthen protections for patient confidentiality and limit immigration enforcement access in health care settings, reinforcing the importance of maintaining health care environments that are safe, lawful, and focused on patient care. ACCMA encourages physicians and medical practices to remain informed about these protections and to uphold policies that prioritize patient wellbeing, continuity of care, and public health. Click here for guidance and information.