One of the many cruel intentions behind “flooding the zone” with harmful policies and rhetoric is to instill fear in our immigrant communities—and one of NYLAG’s priorities as advocates is to make sure those fears don’t keep people from accessing medical care.
Norma Tinubu, Interim Associate Director of NYLAG’s LegalHealth Unit, spoke with City Limits about what we’re seeing in our medical legal partnerships across New York City and how we’re working with clients and health care providers in response:
For weeks, advocates and attorneys have been educating and reassuring people, encouraging them to continue getting health care when they need it.
New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) and its LegalHealth partnership program—which provides free legal services on public benefits, immigration, and housing inside hospitals and community health centers—has been receiving referrals from healthcare professionals.
“Since December, we have heard reports of patients not wanting to enroll in health insurance, and this week, we have heard from a client who refused to go to the emergency room, notwithstanding severe pain and advice from her primary care physician to go to the emergency room,” said Norma Tinubu, interim associate director of NYLAG’s LegalHealth.
In addition to the fears of those they’re fielding calls from, advocates and also attorneys worry about those who remain silent and don’t seek answers or assistance.
Read the full piece published in City Limits (aquí en español) on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.
The post City Limits: Advocates, Health Providers Look to Ease Immigrants’ Fears of Accessing Care Under Trump appeared first on New York Legal Assistance Group.
