Update (March 2026):
On March 10, 2026, Allegheny County Council passed an ordinance limiting cooperation between county employees and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The measure restricts the use of county resources for federal immigration enforcement activities, except where required by law or court order, reinforcing that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility. While this action does not prevent federal enforcement, it helps support an environment where individuals can seek care and county services without added fear related to immigration status.
The Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS), representing more than 2,000 physicians and medical students across Allegheny County, supports efforts to ensure that every person in our community can access medical care without regard to immigration or refugee status, as proposed in Allegheny County Council Ordinance 13809-26.
At the heart of medical care is trust. Physicians have a professional and ethical obligation to care for patients and to protect the integrity of the physician–patient relationship. Patients must feel confident that when they seek medical care, their primary focus can remain on their health and well-being.
When fear enters the healthcare setting, that trust can be undermined. Immigration enforcement activity connected to healthcare environments can discourage immigrant and refugee populations from seeking care. When individuals delay or avoid medical treatment because they are worried about potential enforcement activity, preventable conditions can worsen and broader public health risks can emerge.
“Healthcare settings should remain places where patients can seek care safely and without fear.”
These concerns have also been recognized by physicians across Pennsylvania. At the Pennsylvania Medical Society House of Delegates, physician leaders adopted policy supporting protections that allow healthcare facilities to function as safe environments for patient care and opposing interference with physicians’ ability to treat patients regardless of immigration status.
ACMS encourages policies that ensure hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings remain places where patients can seek care safely and without fear. For this reason, ACMS believes county resources should not be used for immigration enforcement activity in healthcare settings, allowing healthcare professionals to remain focused on patient care. Aligning with Pennsylvania Medical Society policy, ACMS also supports efforts to protect healthcare facilities as sensitive locations and to ensure that physicians and healthcare professionals can provide care without disruption.
PAMED Policy Alignment
The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) Policy 440.947 supports:
Recognizing healthcare facilities as “sensitive locations”
Protecting physicians’ ability to provide care regardless of immigration status
Shielding healthcare settings from enforcement activity that disrupts care
Ensuring access to care without fear of criminalization
Providing guidance to healthcare professionals when law enforcement is present
ACMS works to advance public health through education, advocacy, service, and support for physician well-being, with a focus on compassionate medical care for the communities we serve. The organization remains committed to the health and well-being of every person who lives in Allegheny County and stands ready to serve as a resource to policymakers working to strengthen access to care and protect public health.
Comments on this can be submitted to acms@acms.org.