Controversy has erupted at the Ben Archer Health Center locations across Southern New Mexico, following reports that the clinics are denying services to patients who cannot provide proof of citizenship, including birth certificates. Senator Martin Heinrich brought attention to this issue via social media, sharing an image of a sign that states the clinics are acting under an executive order titled "Ending Subsidization of Open Borders."
The sign, dated February 19, effectively bars "any ineligible alien who entered the United States illegally or is otherwise unlawfully present" from receiving federally funded services at the healthcare centers. This policy reportedly affects an array of services, including school-based health clinics and standalone clinic appointments, as relayed by an anonymous employee to KVIA.
In response to the exclusionary practices, Heinrich condemned the health centers, stating, "What Ben Archer was pulling at its health clinics wasn't just wrong, it was illegal. I am glad they reversed course, and that they did it quickly. Let this be a lesson to all healthcare providers that we will hold you accountable for following the law," as per KFOX-TV. Heinrich further criticized the misalignment of priorities in light of pressing issues such as a measles outbreak and economic challenges facing the region.
Resident Paul Lujan expressed his frustration to KFOX-TV, saying, "That's the clinic that we go to and we love that clinic. Now this is happening, we don't even know what we're going to do." Ben Archer Health Centers receive funding from various sources, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the State of New Mexico, and Dona Ana County, and have multiple locations in the state, as detailed on their website. Efforts to solicit comments from the center and related health organizations have thus far been unsuccessful.
President Donald Trump, who issued the executive order, defended his administration's approach with, "My administration will uphold the rule of law, defend against the waste of hard-earned taxpayer resources, and protect benefits for American citizens in need," as reported by KTSM. However, with recent actions taken by Ben Archer Health Centers creating barriers to healthcare for certain individuals, the discourse on healthcare rights and legal mandates continues to evolve.
