Examining the Presence of Border Patrol Agents in Hospitals in South Texas.

Abstract

U.S. policy dictates that immigration enforcement should not take place in or near "sensitive locations," such as healthcare facilities, but Border Patrol agents are often required to accompany detained border crossers to hospitals for medical care. There is little understanding of the presence of Border Patrol agents within healthcare facilities. This study is the first to examine the presence of Border Patrol agents in healthcare settings and its possible impact on the willingness of undocumented individuals to access healthcare. We conducted interviews with 57 emergency medical services (EMS) personnel working in one county in South Texas. Interviews were held between November 2023- January 2024. Interview transcripts were coded using NVivo 14 and thematic analysis was performed on the transcript data. There is a regular, highly visible Border Patrol presence in healthcare settings in the community of study. In many cases, participants stated that they saw Border Patrol agents every time they brought a patient to the hospital. Hospitals are listed as sensitive locations for immigration enforcement, but policies that require agents to accompany detained border crossers result in a near constant presence of Border Patrol agents in hospitals. The regular, visible presence of Border Patrol agents at hospitals in the study community may deter community residents without legal status from seeking healthcare.