As Mobile Clinics providing care to marginalized and criminalized populations, it is imperative to understand the rights of patients and clinics with immigration enforcement officials. This presentation will discuss recent changes in Department of Homeland Security policies and practices in relation to clinics, hospitals, schools, and churches. We will then discuss patient, provider, and staff rights when interacting with law enforcement in both the brick-and-mortar and mobile health settings. Mobile clinical units, as operating vehicles, have different protections under the 4th amendment and US case law.  

A key part of the discussion will focus on when law enforcement can enter a clinic, particularly mobile health units, without a warrant. We will clarify the difference between judicial warrants (issued by a court) and administrative warrants (issued by immigration officials), and how these affect the rights of clinics, staff, and patients.Participants will engage in role-playing exercises to practice asserting their rights during law enforcement interactions. These scenarios will help staff and providers navigate real-world situations and understand how to protect patient privacy.  

Finally, we will highlight potential resources to help clinics and providers respond effectively to these challenges, including rapid response networks for legal observer support and “Know Your Rights” handouts for patients. We will also discuss strategies for creating family preparedness plans to ensure that patients and their families are ready to act if they encounter immigration enforcement.By the end of the session, participants will understand their legal rights, tools for protecting patients and staff, and practical skills for managing law enforcement interactions in clinical settings. This knowledge ensures mobile clinics can continue providing essential healthcare to vulnerable populations while safeguarding legal rights.   This presentation does not constitute legal advice but serves as “Know Your Rights” training specific to the mobile health context. Information is drawn from publicly available sources (American Civil Liberties Union, National Immigration Law Center, Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law). One of the presenters, has over 10 years of experience providing humanitarian aid to migrants along the US-Mexico border, including serving as the liaison with US Border Patrol during escalating field situations.  

Learning Objectives: Understand the legal rights of patients, providers, and staff in mobile clinics when interacting with immigration enforcement, including the concepts of consent to search, exigent circumstances, and probable cause Differentiate between judicial and administrative warrants, and recognize how these distinctions impact the rights of mobile clinic staff, patients, and providers under the 4th Amendment. Develop practical skills to assert rights, protect patient privacy, and respond effectively to law enforcement interactions through role-playing scenarios and available resources.