Tampa advocates work to launch health center and fight misinformation over immigration law

Nancy Hernandez delivers food and provides counseling to people in need at her office along Nebraska Avenue. Twice a week, families wait patiently in their vehicles. Many arrive two hours early. Some walk there.

Hernandez, founder of the local nonprofit Mujeres Restauradas por Dios, or Women Restored by God, is planning to take on another commitment during an uncertain time: opening a community health center to provide free and basic medical services to those who are vulnerable and uninsured.

“Many people are desperately seeking this help, especially now that things have become more difficult in Florida with the new immigration law,” said Hernandez.

Senate Bill 1718 was approved by the Florida Legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May. The legislation, which took effect on July 1, is considered among the nation’s toughest crackdowns on illegal immigration. DeSantis and other Republican officials claimed that the new law would restore confidence.

Among other provisions, the law requires hospitals that accept Medicaid to ask about patients’ immigration status during the admissions process. Local hospitals have assured that this information will not affect their care, or result in a report to immigration authorities.

But immigrants without proper documents are afraid to go to the hospital due to this provision, said Hernandez, and don’t want to take a risk, even when the person can decline to answer that question.

Hernandez is planning to open her community clinic next month, in the same building where she already has her office at 4310 N Nebraska Ave. Over the last six months, she has managed to collect $40,000 from private donors. The clinic will operate with the support of a group of primary care providers who will donate their time and efforts, she said.

“I believe it’s an important initiative because, in addition to the services we can provide to the community, we are telling our people that they are not alone, and we can somehow help them,” said Hernandez.

Another community activist, Ana Lamb, of Wimauma, works every week through her WhatsApp group, which has more than 400 members of immigrants from Central America. She likes to deliver reliable information and answer questions about immigration law and hospitals.

She said misinformation on social media about the immigration law keeps many from making the right choices.

Isaret Jeffers, leader and founder of Colectivo Árbol, is coordinating with private donors and volunteers to launch a mobile clinic before the end of the year. Her goal is to address healthcare needs for farmworkers around the fields of Plant City, similar to the services provided by the Migrant Ministry and Suncoast Community Health Centers.

Jeffers said it is not only a lack of transportation that has been a significant barrier to accessing health care services for many low-income families and immigrants who work in agriculture. For her, now there is a new feeling of fear due to the immigration law.

“It’s true: Many families and women, especially single mothers, are afraid,” said Jeffers. “It’s the time to help them because they don’t know what to do.”