Message sent on behalf of Dr. Dustin Riccio, President & CEO
For the past several years, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has refrained from enforcement at sensitive or protected locations, including healthcare facilities such as hospitals and clinics. Last week, the United States Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, rescinded this policy. In light of this action, I want to take a moment to reaffirm our commitment to our mission and to remind you of our policies regarding interactions with law enforcement.
For the past 158 years, we have proudly served the needs of our community. Our mission does not change, as our core values remain rooted in compassion, respect, and a dedication to the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve. The New Jersey Hospital Association also has reiterated that NJ hospitals will continue to provide care for all individuals — regardless of their immigration status. We understand that the current climate surrounding immigration enforcement and ICE activity may create concerns or anxiety for both our staff and patients. We are here to support you and your ability to care for our patients without fear or hesitation.
To ensure that all situations are handled appropriately, I want to remind everyone that our longstanding policy related to law enforcement remains unchanged. Any law enforcement activity – whether local, county, state or federal – must be directed immediately to our Public Safety & Security team. Our security personnel are specially trained to manage these situations and ensure that both our staff and patients are treated with dignity and respect. Our security office can be reached 24/7 at 973-754-5555.
Please know that we are deeply committed to respecting the privacy of our patients and employees regardless of their immigration status or that of their family members. Every action that we take, or decline to take, in response to law enforcement activity will be informed by that principle. This is a dynamic situation that will continue to change in the weeks and months ahead. We are in the process of evaluating how to best ensure that we continue to provide the care our community needs in this climate. We are exploring all of our telehealth options and how essential services can be provided remotely, should members of our community feel uncomfortable coming on-site for any reason. In the coming weeks, we will provide you with updates about telehealth, additional available resources, and frequently asked questions.
In the meantime, should you have any questions or need additional support, please do not hesitate to reach out to the executive team, your managers and directors, and/or our Human Resources and Public Safety & Security teams. Thank you for your continued dedication to our mission and for the incredible care you provide every day. Together, we will remain a source of healing for everyone in our community. For your convenience, we have provided a Tip Sheet below with an overview of what to do should ICE or any law enforcement agency come on-site.