Three Rivers Hospital’s Statement on Immigration Enforcement

The federal government has changed its rules about immigration enforcement in hospitals. Before, immigration officers from ICE and CBP were told not to take action in “protected areas” like hospitals, schools, and churches.

Three Rivers Hospital, along with all hospitals in Washington State, is a place for healing. We care for everyone, no matter who they are or why they need help. Our goal is to keep hospitals safe and open to all Washington residents, no matter their immigration status. Because of recent federal changes, hospitals are working on ways to better protect immigrant communities. However, if there is a valid court order or warrant, hospitals must follow the law.

So far, Three Rivers Hospital has not had any immigration enforcement actions, and we are not aware of any happening in other hospitals in our state.

What Three Rivers Hospital is Doing:

• Supporting Staff and Leaders: We know our staff might feel nervous if armed immigration officers come to the hospital. That’s why we have a trained leader on duty at all times to handle these situations. Staff members are told not to confirm or deny if a patient is there and to send immigration officers to the right hospital leader.
• Checking if Requests Are Legal: Immigration officers cannot just demand to see patients or private hospital areas. There can be confusion about what is a real court order or warrant, especially when officers are armed. We are teaching our staff how to make sure any request is legally valid.
• Protecting Patient Privacy: If we receive a valid court order, we must follow the law. But we will still follow all state and federal privacy rules and will not share patient information unless legally required.
• Allowing Patients to Stay Private: Every patient in Washington hospitals can choose to “opt out” of the hospital directory. This means their name won’t be listed at the front desk, and staff won’t confirm if they are there. We encourage undocumented patients and their supporters to ask for this option.