Frequently asked questions about law enforcement in health care settings

Translations: Español | Hmoob | Soomali | ကညီ With the recent increase in federal law enforcement presence, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.), in Minnesota, many families have questions. Below, we walk through frequently asked questions about our health care system and continued care during this time. As a reminder, Children’s Minnesota’s mission is to champion the health needs of children and families. We are committed to improving children’s health by providing the highest-quality, family-centered care, advanced through research and education.

Frequently asked questions

How is Children’s Minnesota operating during this time?

Continuing patient care: Children’s Minnesota operations are continuing as normal. We will continue to provide exceptional care to our patients and families regardless of immigration status or ability to pay.

What are Children’s Minnesota’s policies for patient and employee privacy?

We will continue to follow our existing policies, which emphasize protecting patient and employee privacy. The safety and privacy of our employees, patients and families is a top priority. This includes:

Maintaining confidentiality of patient and employee information.
Not allowing any unauthorized personnel in patient care areas without proper legal documentation.

Does immigration status affect my family’s care?

Children’s Minnesota has always provided care to our patients and families regardless of immigration status or ability to pay – and will continue to do so.

Does Children’s Minnesota share patients’ immigration status with authorities?

Children’s Minnesota complies with State and Federal privacy laws that protect any information received by patients in conjunction with their care. We will always keep patients’ information private. We never share patient information unless patients give us permission or it is required by law.

The state is required to share Medicaid and Emergency Medical Assistance enrollee data with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and CMS is allowed to share that data with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Data for state-only programs like MinnesotaCare are not shared with CMS.

Can federal agents get into a Children’s Minnesota building while a patient is there?

Law enforcement can enter public spaces within our buildings like waiting rooms and cafeterias but cannot enter patient areas without proper legal documentation.

What if my family isn’t comfortable coming to our appointment?

Your peace of mind matters. If you are uncomfortable attending an in-person visit, please call your clinic to explore other options. We can often arrange e-visits, telehealth or other flexible solutions to ensure your child’s care remains uninterrupted.