Governor Signs Senator Arreguín's Bill to Ensure Healthcare Spaces are Safe Spaces into Law
Los Angeles, CA – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 81, authored by Senator Jesse Arreguín (D-Berkeley), into law. The law requires healthcare providers establish nonpublic areas to ensure they continue to be safe spaces for our communities, and support patient care and privacy. SB 81 protects the privacy and dignity of all Californians, regardless of immigration status, and ensures they can seek care when they need it, free from fear or intimidation.
“I’m grateful to the Governor for signing SB 81 in this critical time where many Californians don’t feel safe to get the care they need. Healthcare is a human right — and no one should have to choose between seeking medical care and fearing harassment or intimidation. Not in California. Not anywhere,” said Senator Jesse Arreguín.
Since June, over 5,000 California residents, most without any criminal record, have been arrested by masked, armed agents in raids across Southern California on public streets, at work sites and in sensitive locations such as health care facilities. In one incident at a surgery center in Ontario, staff were arrested after they asked masked agents for identification and to show a valid judicial arrest warrant that the agents did not provide. In another incident at a hospital in Glendale, a patient was removed by agents despite her physician warning the agents that the patient was medically unstable and not clear for discharge. Health care workers have reported that masked agents have sought access to other health facilities or patient’s private information without a valid warrant. These incidents have created hostile environments, placing the safety of patients, staff, and visitors at risk and deterring people – including children and families – from accessing the health care and essential services they need.
In 2017, SB 54, the California Values Act — a landmark victory for immigrant rights — was signed into law, and this bill builds upon its foundation by codifying guidance from California’s Attorney General into law. SB 54 was created in response to actions by the first Trump Administration to attack and intimidate California’s immigrant communities. California’s immigrant communities are the backbone of the state’s economy and its culture and they must be protected so that no one should have to choose between seeking medical care and fearing detention or deportation.
California is the state with the largest immigration population in the nation, where 1 in 4 Californians are immigrants, 1 in nearly 2 California children live in an immigrant family, and nearly half of California workers are immigrants or children of immigrants. According to the California Budget & Policy Center, undocumented immigrants in California paid $8.5 billion in taxes in 2022, helping fund critical programs and public services. California’s immigrant community is not only essential, but also foundational -- they care for our children, grow our food, build our homes, drive our progress, and fuel the 4th largest economy in the world.
"This is a huge step towards addressing the fear being expressed by patients at our hospitals," said Sandy Reding, RN and president of California Nurses Association. "Keeping all health care facilities safe for immigrant patients must be a priority, and we're proud to see this bill signed into law for the sake of our patients, our communities, and the health of everyone in California."
Everyone should be able to access health care facilities without fear of arrest and detention by federal immigration agents. With SB 81 signed into law, California sends a message to millions of Californians: warrantless arrests are not welcome in our health care system,” said Masih Fouladi, executive director with California Immigrant Policy Center. As the U.S. Supreme Court green lights the use of mass racial profiling by federal agents targeting people based on their race, ethnicity, language, and occupation, California must continue to defend the safety and rights of Californians.
“With Governor Newsom’s signature on SB 81, we take a powerful step toward a healthier, more equitable California. This victory reaffirms our state’s commitment to protecting immigrant communities and ensuring hospitals remain places of healing, not fear,” said Dr. Seciah Aquino, Executive Director of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. “At a time when immigrants and Latinos are being racially profiled, detained, and even losing their lives, we must not sacrifice public health under the guise of public safety. We look forward to working with health systems and the administration to ensure every person, regardless of immigration status, can seek care with dignity and safety.”
The bill, one of the key priorities of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, received support from dozens of organizations, and is co-sponsored by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the California Immigrant Policy Center, the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, and the California Nurses Association.
The Governor signed the bill into law at a signing ceremony at a school in Los Angeles, where he signed several other bills to protect immigrants and hold the Trump Administration accountable.
###