January 22, 2025
Dear Team DPH:
At DPH, everyone deserves the right to get the care they need. San Francisco is healthier when all people access health care services and public health programs.
We are proud to serve all San Franciscans, regardless of immigration status, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sexual identity, or the complexity of their needs.
As a new federal administration begins, our mission remains to protect and promote the health of all San Franciscans. We will provide services at all DPH facilities regardless of immigration and documentation status at all DPH facilities.
In response to federal executive orders on immigration, DPH worked with the City Attorney’s Office to revise our policy on interactions with immigration enforcement agents. This policy ensures that all staff are provided services in alignment with our mission and San Francisco’s Sanctuary City Ordinance. It also provides procedures for staff to use if they come into contact with immigration enforcement authorities on DPH sites including clinics and hospitals.
Everyone should take a moment to review the linked DPH Policy and Procedure: Immigration Status and Interactions with Immigration Enforcement Agents Policy.
Importantly, if any situation occurs involving contact with an immigration enforcement officer, you must immediately notify your site director/supervisor. The site director/supervisor must immediately contact division leadership and the Office of Compliance and Privacy Affairs at 855-729-6040.
The safety of our staff is top priority; thus, we remind staff not to physically interfere with the agents.
As DPH staff, we should not advise patients about their legal rights. Instead, we can provide resources such as:
