Healthcare organizations and some school districts in central Ohio are confronting how to deal with federal immigration officials, should they come knocking.
Columbus City Schools, Whitehall City Schools and the Ohio Nurses Association are just some of the organizations issuing guidance and statements to their employees and the community regarding potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. This comes after the Trump Administration rescinded a policy preventing ICE raids at schools, hospitals and churches.
Columbus City Schools said in a statement the district will continue to be a safe place for all students. The district said public education cannot be denied to students based on their immigration status, according to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"As Ohio’s largest school district, Columbus City Schools is proud to be an inclusive, diverse, and equity-centered institution that strives to be a model of excellence in public education," Superintendent Angela Chapman said in a statement.
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Whitehall City Schools said the district is assessing whether additional resources may be necessary to assist students and families who may be directly impacted by the Trump administration's deportation policies.
Ohio Nurses Association President and Executive Director Rick Lucas told WOSU that nurses in hospitals around the state were told they do not have to cooperate with ICE, specifically giving them information that can violate HIPAA. That includes Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center.
Lucas says any federal agent will be directed to the hospital's legal team and compliance department so hospital staff can focus on patient care.
"Our duty is to provide safe and compassionate care to all of our patients, regardless of their immigration status or any other demographic or their religion or anything else. We have a human being in the bed that needs care and attention, and that's why that's what we're there for, and so that's what we're going to focus on," Lucas said.
The Wexner Medical Center said in a statement if any law enforcement, including ICE, come to a clinic or patient floor, the staff are asked to notify Wexner Medical Center Security to assist with their needs.
"The medical center follows state and federal laws," the statement said.
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Lucas said federal law enforcement entering and attempting to conduct operations in a hospital can be disruptive to patient care. He contrasted that with local law enforcement, whom hospitals have procedures and plans to work around.
"We've worked with local law enforcement for years, so it's something that we're used to. Their protocols are established. This was like an overnight change, and, you know, we're not we're not seeing local law enforcement come in and and drag people out of the hospital that are needing care," Lucas said.
Lucas said nobody knows what to expect if ICE comes into the hospital. He said since the Trump Administration is taking abrupt and aggressive action, people are fearful the actions of ICE may be the same.
