TRENTON, N.J. — A new bill under consideration in New Jersey would require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to implement a statewide public awareness campaign to inform immigrants about privacy laws that shield their health care enrollment information from immigration authorities. The initiative aims to ensure immigrant communities feel safe accessing health programs like Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare.
The legislation mandates the use of linguistically and culturally tailored materials, including Spanish-language resources, to educate the public about federal and state laws preventing the disclosure of health care information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Campaign outreach would include print, television, radio, and online media, as well as distribution through community-based organizations, houses of worship, and health care facilities.
In addition to public outreach, the DHS would be required to create a dedicated webpage addressing privacy and immigration issues. The page would include summaries of the relevant laws, hyperlinks to federal and state resources, and downloadable campaign materials, ensuring accessibility for Spanish-speaking residents with Spanish-language URLs and navigation features.
“This campaign is critical to ensuring that our immigrant residents understand that their private health information is protected under the law,” proponents of the bill stated. They emphasized the importance of fostering trust in state health programs to improve access to essential care, particularly for vulnerable populations who may avoid enrollment out of fear of deportation.
The campaign would be coordinated with existing outreach efforts for Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare, leveraging ongoing state initiatives to expand health care enrollment. DHS would also collaborate with other state agencies to maximize the campaign’s reach and effectiveness.
If passed, the bill would create a framework to reassure immigrant populations about the safety of participating in health care programs, addressing long-standing concerns about privacy and immigration enforcement.