With the incoming Trump administration promising stepped up deportations, the Arlington Free Clinic is clarifying its policies around responding to official inquiries.
The clinic — which provides services to low-income, uninsured Arlington adults — informed volunteers of how to answer “inquiries by officials” in an email yesterday (Monday).
“All inquiries made by governmental officials, including representatives from [U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement], should be directed to AFC’s CEO or, in the CEO’s absence, any AFC Director,” the updated policy says. “Volunteers and other staff are not authorized to respond to these inquiries.”
The clinic’s staff “will cooperate with inquiries made by government officials to the extent required by the law,” but otherwise will not disclose any information related to patients or employees.
AFC President and CEO Lesley Daigle told ARLnow that “we routinely update our policies and procedures.”
“In this instance, we are reaffirming a longstanding policy that only AFC leadership or designated staff speak on behalf of the Clinic,” she said.
If approached by an official, the email noted, volunteers may remain silent or inform the official that they will need to speak with the clinic’s leadership.
“Volunteers should also ensure that no patient identification information is in plain sight,” the email said. “If possible, AFC volunteers may assist in moving patients from the public waiting room area to the private clinical area.”
The clinic’s leadership “is in the process of reviewing and updating our Policies & Procedures.” The email did not list any other planned changes.
The new policy at AFC, a private nonprofit, comes just a few weeks after the Arlington County Board approved tighter restrictions on when Arlington police can contact federal authorities about undocumented immigrants.
President-elect Donald Trump’s promises of mass deportations have stoked fears among some local advocates and officials about impacts on Arlington’s immigrant communities.
At last month’s County Board meeting, chants from protesters calling for even less cooperation with ICE caused a roughly 15 minute recess prior to the Board’s vote.
