ICE’s detained noncitizen population presents unique health care challenges. Some noncitizens come into the United States under dangerous conditions and may suffer from dehydration, injuries, misdiagnoses, or previously existing medical conditions. In many instances, the care noncitizens receive while in ICE custody is the first professional medical care they have received. Health screenings often identify chronic and previously undiagnosed health conditions.

IHSC recognizes the need for patient privacy, honors patient requests for same-gender or preferred-gender providers, and uses translation and dialect interpretation services when needed.

IHSC’s Motivation to Provide High Quality Health Care

Dr. Stewart D. Smith, IHSC Assistant Director, strongly believes in the mission and capabilities of the agency’s health care team.

IHSC’s Core Values

• Integrity. We consistently conduct business and deliver goods and services openly, honestly, and to the best of our ability.
• Commitment. We are committed to providing quality, cost-effective health care in collaboration and partnership with both federal and non-federal partners.
• Accountability. We are responsible for our personal and organizational decisions, actions, and results. We are good stewards of government funds and resources.
• Service. We strive to satisfy and meet the needs of the organization and stakeholders in support of immigration law enforcement.
• Excellence. We provide services and mission support utilizing highly qualified health care professionals to work toward achieving optimal outcomes.

IHSC Workforce

The IHSC workforce consists of physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, pharmacists, dentists and administrators.

The IHSC Special Operations Unit (ISOU) works with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to provide health care to migrants on board USCG vessels interdicted at sea. ISOU officers liaise between law enforcement officials and stakeholders to meet the medical needs of noncitizens during repatriation flights.

ICE embraces national performance standards for detention and health care delivery. IHSC conducts significant training to ensure noncitizens receive excellent medical care. IHSC’s personnel undergo more scrutiny than any other integrated health delivery program in the nation. ICE enforces its standards with regular reviews, on-site assessments, and corrective action plans, if needed.

ICE Health Service Corps Accreditations and Credentials

• American Correction Association
• National Commission on Correctional Health Care
• National Practitioner Data Bank
• ICE Family Residential Standards
• ICE Performance-Based National Detention Standards