Statement from the ASHA Hispanic Caucus Regarding Use of Violent Tactics Against Immigrant Communities
January 27, 2026 — The ASHA Hispanic Caucus issues this statement to unequivocally condemn the terrorizing and violent tactics employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol agents in our communities.
We are devastated by the brutal killing of Alex Pretti, a dedicated intensive care nurse and community protector, and we are heartbroken by the inhumane detention of Liam Ramos, a 5-year-old child taken into custody immediately after returning home from preschool.
A Crisis of Humanity and Ethics
These actions are not only violations of human rights; they are direct assaults on the safety, development, and well-being of the populations we serve. As speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and scientists, we are bound by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Code of Ethics, which compels us to speak against practices that harm our clients and colleagues..
Violation of Principle I (Welfare of Persons Served)
The ASHA Code of Ethics, Principle I, states: "Individuals shall honor their responsibility to hold paramount the welfare of persons they serve professionally." When immigrant communities are terrorized by violent enforcement tactics, families are forced into the shadows, afraid to seek essential medical, educational, and rehabilitative services. The fear of deportation or violence acts as a barrier to communication healthcare, causing direct harm to the children and adults we are sworn to serve. The trauma inflicted on a young child, who is ripped from the safety of his school routine and family environment, can have catastrophic, long-term effects on cognitive, linguistic, and social-emotional development. Terrorizing children is antithetical to everything we stand for as developmental specialists.
Violation of Principle I, Rule C (Non-Discrimination)
The Code explicitly prohibits discrimination in the delivery of professional services on the basis of national origin, culture, or language. We view the targeted harassment of immigrant communities not only as a violation of human rights but as an assault on the equitable access to care that our profession champions. When enforcement agencies target specific communities with violence, they create an environment where families are too terrified to seek early intervention, audiology screenings, or speech therapy. This systemic intimidation effectively denies equitable access to care based on national origin and immigration status..
Upholding Principle IV (Dignity of the Professions)
Principle IV mandates that we uphold the dignity of our professions and maintain harmonious interprofessional relationships. We cannot remain silent while fellow healthcare workers like Alex Pretti are killed for documenting injustice and protecting the vulnerable. Alex Pretti exemplified the highest standards of care and advocacy. His death serves as a chilling reminder that those who advocate for the vulnerable are increasingly at risk. We stand in solidarity with the nursing community and all healthcare providers who refuse to remain silent. To stay silent would be to abdicate our professional responsibility to advocate for the safety and humanity of the populations we serve.
Our Stance
The Hispanic Caucus, established to provide representation and advocacy for Hispanic professionals and the diverse populations we serve, declares that communication cannot flourish in an environment of terror.
We demand:
An immediate cessation of violent and terrorizing tactics by immigration enforcement agencies that endanger public safety and public health.
The immediate release of Liam Ramos and a prohibition on the detention of children and the use of minors in enforcement operations.
Justice for Alex Pretti and transparency regarding the circumstances of his death.
The protection of safe spaces (including schools, hospitals, and clinics) so that no individual is afraid to access the care they need.