UPDATE: Immigration and Custom Enforcement at Illinois Hospitals
On Jan. 23 and Sept. 12, IHA published member memos explaining changes to Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforcement activities, and providing resources and reminders for hospitals on how to respond such activities. We encourage you to review these memos for full background on this important and evolving issue.

Given the possibility of increased ICE activity in the coming days and weeks, it is important to remember that the City of Chicago and Illinois continue to reaffirm their commitment to the Welcoming City Ordinance and the Illinois Trust Act, respectively. In early January, the City released guidelines for visits by federal representatives and there are also additional resources on the City’s “Protecting Chicago” website. 

In preparation for a possible ICE visit, hospitals are encouraged to:

• Review and update their policies and protocols.
• Continue to train staff on such policies, as well as patient/detainees’ rights.
• Consider retaining an immigration lawyer now, who can be called upon as needed if a situation arises.
• Remember there are certain legal procedures and rights which should be followed, including, but not limited to:
  • ICE agents should always be required to identify themselves and provide credentials when asked, as a matter of policy and procedure.  
  • An individual in ICE custody and/or CBP custody in the field has a clear right to communicate with counsel. If possible, ask for and document the agent’s name, badge and officer number of any ICE officer who refuses to permit counsel to communicate with patient/detained person in custody. It may also be beneficial to reach out to the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility.  

In the event of an ICE visit, hospitals should:

• Immediately contact their legal counsel for further guidance and follow any policies that your organization has established.  
• Contact IHA so that we are aware and, to the extent possible, able to offer assistance. 

IHA will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as they become available.

Staff contact: Karen Harris

Webinar: Assisting Individuals and Families in Rural Settings
Farmers and ranchers face unique, unpredictable stressors like weather events, disasters, financial strain, and livestock or crop losses. These challenges, along with common family stressors, can lead to higher rates of depression and suicide in rural areas. Limited resources, cultural reluctance to seek help, and provider unfamiliarity with rural life make intervention difficult. Understanding rural culture is essential for building trust and offering effective support. Children and environmental cues often reflect family stress, and professionals across settings—rural, urban, and schools—must be prepared to recognize and respond to these needs.

A Nov. 7 Mental Health Education Coalition virtual program will provide important information for healthcare providers to help increase their knowledge about stress factors for farmers and their families; signs and symptoms indicating stress, depression, and suicide unique to farm populations; rural cultural issues that may impede getting needed help for all rural residents; and guidance on when treatment provision is appropriate versus making a referral. 

Click here for more information about the program, including registration, speakers and continuing education credit. Advance registration is required and the deadline to register is Nov. 5.

HSCC Launches Toolkit on Healthcare Cybersecurity
Yesterday, the Cybersecurity Working Group (CWG) of the Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC) released its Health Industry Cybersecurity Sector Mapping and Risk Toolkit (SMART) for healthcare organizations. The toolkit provides templates and a methodology to help healthcare organizations visualize, identify, and measure systemic risk posed by third party technology, software, and communications services essential to clinical, administrative, and manufacturing workflows.

HSCC noted in a press release that while larger organizations have dedicated resources to improve the resiliency of their critical functions, many small- to medium-sized organizations do not have similar tools appropriate to their size, capability and resource constraints. The SMART Toolkit provides actionable guidance and methods to help these organizations manage systemic risks related to their critical functions and dependencies within the health system. The guidance assists organizations with procuring secure products and high availability of services from suppliers to drive improved standards for critical functions. The SMART tool can also help organizations anticipate potential incidents and develop backup and resiliency plans.