Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree stated Monday that individuals will not be arrested or detained while seeking medical help or being outside of their home because of their immigration status.
The district attorney stated he had received numerous reports of fear regarding undocumented individuals afraid to seek medical assistance. He sent out a statement to provide clarity from a pubic safety standpoint as it related to COVID-19, according to his statement. A “stay home” order went into effect Tuesday in Wyandotte County.
“Individuals will not be arrested or detained while seeking medical help, or for being outside of your home, because of one’s immigration status,” Dupree stated. “We are in this thing together. Law enforcement encourages all to comply with the ‘Stay at Home’ order issued recently throughout the metro. Health officials believe this will be one of the best ways to ‘flatten the curve’ in the spread of the virus.
“If you do have to go out, you will not be pulled over and questioned,” Dupree stated. “We simply ask for compliance with the ordinance. Additionally, if you are home and undocumented, police are not looking to arrest any group of people en masse.”
On its website, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says it has temporarily adjusted its enforcement posture beginning March 18. ICE will not carry out enforcement operations at or near health care facilities, such as hospitals, doctors’ offices, accredited health clinics and emergency or urgent care facilities, except in the most extraordinary of circumstances, according to the website. Individuals should not avoid seeking medical care because they fear civil immigration enforcement. The website is at https://www.ice.gov/covid19.
Those who have the symptoms of COVID-19 may contact their health care providers, Dupree stated. They will direct patients to any further steps that need to be taken. Spanish-speaking individuals seeking assistance or resources may contact El Centro at 913-677-0100.
For more information, visit https://www.wycokck.org/WycoKCK/media/Health-Department/Documents/WyCo-DA-Office-COVID-19-Update-Immigrant-Hispanic-Documented-and-Undocumented-Community.pdf