Prompted by President Donald Trump’s executive order aiming to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to operate in medical facilities, the peninsula’s hospital issued a statement last week.

The executive action has resulted in questions across the country about what it will mean for undocumented immigrants seeking medical care. The effects could mean an individual second-guessing whether to seek emergency medical attention.

“Ocean Beach Hospital and all hospitals in Washington state are places of healing,” OBH stated in a press release on Feb. 7. “Hospitals in our state care for everyone regardless of who they are or why they need care.”

“Hospitals will strive to remain safe and accessible to all Washington residents, regardless of immigration or citizenship status. Given recent federal changes, hospitals are taking steps to provide increased protections to immigrant communities. However, hospitals must respond to properly executed court orders or warrants for immigration enforcement,” OBH added.

As of Feb. 7, OBH reports it has not experienced ICE actions at its facility or seen them at other area facilities.

According to the press release, OBH is controlling who can access facilities, is providing leadership and staff support, will verify all requests from law enforcement, will continue to comply with mandated privacy laws, will continue to offer an “opt out” option for the patient directory, and will continue to provide resources.

“A demand from ICE or CBP is not sufficient to gain access to patients or private areas of hospitals,” OBH stated in the press release. “The administrator will follow our process to verify the validity of the enforcement demand.”

“If there is a court order or a judicial warrant, we must comply with it. However, Ocean Beach Hospital will continue to follow all state and federal privacy laws including HIPAA and will not provide identifying information about patients except as required in the laws,” OBH added.