Tag: immigrants

New “public charge” rule threatens the health of our communities

January 29, 2020.Reading time 5 minutes.
Statue of Liberty with a gray sky

Update 2-3-20: The federal Department of Homeland Security says it will begin applying the new rule starting 2-24-20 A new immigration rule that Public Health–Seattle & King County (PHSKC) Director Patty Hayes calls “inhumane” will be going into effect soon, because of a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. The rule would penalize some immigrants […]

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Protecting immigrant families is a public health priority — read King County’s official comment letter

December 6, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

The chilling effects are already harming people in King County. A federal proposal to re-define who is eligible to immigrate to the United States is impacting health and nutrition for thousands of families. In response, King County is filing comments with the federal government. The comment letter quoted below is signed by King County Executive Dow […]

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Why Public Health sees a community threat in proposal about immigration

September 25, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.
Public Health Director Patty Hayes with other community leaders at a news conference held at International Community Health Services in Seattle on Sept. 25, 2018

The new proposal to amend the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s “public charge” test is a threat to the public’s health. “This is inhumane, and it would undermine efforts to improve the overall health of King County—and impact generations to come,” said Patty Hayes, director of Public Health—Seattle & King County, in a news release […]

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Public Health encourages immigrant clients to access services without fear

July 20, 2017.Reading time 4 minutes.

(información en español) All people should feel safe when they get health services. Unfortunately, recent federal immigration proposals have made people in immigrant communities feel more fear and stress. Some families feel they must choose between two risks. Should they avoid a clinic and possibly risk their health? Or should they risk an encounter with […]

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All Are Welcome Here: How a statement of King County commitment became a sign for every work site

February 15, 2017.Reading time 3 minutes.

Reposted from KC Employee News Even before the Trump administration announced its travel ban, Public Health staff started to notice a downturn in the number of immigrant patients coming for care at our clinics. Tina Maestas, Public Health Nurse at the Renton Community Service Organization, contacted Director Patty Hayes to express her concern. “The Latino […]

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What if a health worker came to you? And spoke your language?

February 6, 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

On this Monday afternoon at the community room at Southwood Square in Kent, Natalie Kotar brings out her whiteboard and begins a conversation about healthy drinks—all in Russian. Here, she’s known as Natasha, an affectionate nickname in Russian for Natalie. The seniors living here have met in the community room, a few feet from the […]

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