HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 20 Letter from six healthcare providers
May 31, 2018
Dear Mayor Lundberg and Member of the City Council,
As health care providers for Latino children in Springfield, we urge you to terminate Springfield
Jail's contract with ICE. We are concerned about the adverse effects of the presence of ICE in
the community on both the mental and physical health of our patients.
Over the last two years, Latino children in our clinic have reported an increase in the number of
negative comments and actions because of their race. This causes significant stress for both
documented and undocumented community members. For example, the daughter of one of
the PeaceHealth Medical Group clinic managers came home from school, upset because other
children in her class told her that she and her family would be deported to Mexico. The other
children in her class were making this comment based on her race, not understanding that the
family members are all legally here. The manager, and most of the members of her large
extended family who live in the area, now always carry their birth certificates, social security
numbers, or green cards in case they are stopped. While they are all legally here, the stress of
feeling like they may be stopped and detained because of their race is constant.
We have also cared for children whose parents have been deported. Studies have documented
the immediate adverse effects on children, primarily emotional distress of being separated
from a mother or father or both, and financial stress from loss of earnings for the family*. In
recent years, there has been increasing evidence of adverse long-term health effects of toxic
stress on children. Deportation and deportation threat are significant stressors.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/01/ As providers, we attempt to provide
care for both the mental and physical health of our patients. The presence of ICE affects both
adversely.
As health care providers, we believe that we need to do all we can to make children feel safe
and supported. Terminating the ICE contract would symbolize the value that the City of
Springfield places on all children.
Please let us know if you would like to meet with us to discuss further.
Sincerely,
Lauren J. Herbert MD
Miranda Lanning MD
Leslie Pelinka MD
Heather Schlessman PNP
John Roth PA
Elizabeth Karas RN
*Dr. Herbert can provide copies of the studies and signatures, if requested.