New Resolution Targets Denial of Reproductive Care for Immigrants in DHS Custody, Calls to End 5-Year Health Program Wait

This resolution lays out a detailed case arguing that you can’t separate immigrant justice from reproductive justice. It’s not a law that changes things immediately, but it’s a powerful declaration based on extensive findings that calls on federal agencies and Congress to fix serious, documented problems.

Specifically, the resolution identifies systemic failures in how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—including ICE and CBP—handles the medical care of people in custody, especially pregnant individuals. It cites reports of inadequate care, forced procedures like hysterectomies, and medical neglect that has led to loss of pregnancy. The core message is that denying health care and creating an environment of fear and detention undermines the fundamental right to bodily autonomy for millions of immigrants.

The Health Care Waiting Game

One of the most immediate calls to action is aimed at Congress: eliminate the five-year waiting period for immigrants to access critical federal health programs like Medicaid, CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), and Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage. For the average person, this five-year waiting period is a massive barrier. It means that even if a working immigrant family is legally present, they can be locked out of affordable health insurance for half a decade. This resolution argues that restricting access to basic health coverage based on immigration status is a direct assault on health equity and reproductive freedom, making it harder for families to thrive.

Accountability for Detention Facilities

The resolution also takes aim directly at the Secretary of Homeland Security. It demands three major changes regarding detention facilities. First, DHS must permanently reinstate protective status for pregnant individuals, reversing policies that weakened minimum standards of care. Second, they must implement transparent oversight and accountability mechanisms to monitor the quality of reproductive health care across all detention facilities. This means no more operating in the dark; the resolution calls for DHS to report all internal medical reports regarding individuals in detention to Congress. Finally, it requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), to ensure unaccompanied immigrant youth can access necessary health care, including abortion, without delay, regardless of the state they are held in. This addresses the finding that many ORR shelters are located in states with restrictive abortion laws, limiting care options for minors in federal custody.

What This Means for Real People

While this is a resolution and not a binding law that forces changes, it serves as a roadmap and a public shaming mechanism. If Congress were to follow this resolution’s lead, the biggest real-world impact would be the elimination of the five-year waiting period for federal health programs. For an immigrant worker who just got their green card, this could mean immediate access to Medicaid for their children or subsidized ACA coverage, reducing massive financial stress and allowing them to get preventative care instead of waiting for an emergency. On the detention side, the call for transparency and reinstatement of protections is crucial. It’s about ensuring that a pregnant person in custody doesn’t have to fear medical neglect or forced procedures, demanding that the government meet basic standards of care.