FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Doctors for America
PO Box: 21161
2300 18th St NW Lbby
Washington, DC 20009-9996
May 2, 2024
Doctors for America Supports Equal Treatment for All- Including Immigrant Communities
Washington, D.C.: On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States granted a preliminary approval of Senate Bill 4, a Texas law that enables local law enforcement to arrest people suspected of entering the United States from Mexico without documentation. However, Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Justice Jackson dissented and condemned the law. Though the law has been put back on hold under the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Doctors For America expresses grave concern about the legal implications and social ramifications of S.B. 4 should it go into effect. Under this statute, local police officers would be able to profile individuals on the basis of racial or ethnic background, escalating potential speculation into an arrest, imprisonment, or deportation. This will tear apart families, create a climate of fear, and harm the mental and physical well-being of communities across the state, disproportionately impacting Black and brown communities. As an organization representing thousands of physicians dedicated to ensuring the wellbeing of others, DFA strongly supports the notion that our society does its best when it reaches out to serve others less fortunate, including immigrants and refugees.
DFA believes strongly in health justice for all communities and advocates for the fair and humane treatment of immigrants. The Texas law poses significant and unacceptable risk to the psychosocial and physical well being of immigrants and their loved ones. We call upon all health professionals and advocacy organizations to engage in efforts to prevent the harms of this law and support those affected.
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About Doctors for America:
Doctors for America mobilizes doctors and medical students to be leaders in putting patients over politics to improve the health of our patients, communities, and nation. DFA is an organization of over 27,000 physician and medical student advocates in all 50 states, representing all areas of specialization. DFA teaches physicians and medical students advocacy skills and does advocacy at a state and federal level. Our impact areas focus on access to affordable care, community health and prevention, and health justice and equity. DFA focuses solely on what is best for our patients, not on the business side of medicine, and does not accept any funding from pharmaceutical or medical device companies, which uniquely positions DFA as the organization that puts patients over politics and patients over profits. Find out more at doctorsforamerica.org and on Twitter drsforamerica.