Bellevue Hospital's Program for Torture Survivors Faces Closure

The Brian Lehrer Show explores the impending closure of Bellevue Hospital's Program for Survivors of Torture (PSOT), a 30-year-old initiative founded by Dr. Alan Keller that provides comprehensive, interdisciplinary care to asylum seekers who have endured torture. The city's decision to shut down the program stems from concerns that federal funding under the Torture Victims Relief Act could compel Bellevue to disclose patient immigration data to federal authorities, potentially enabling deportations under a Trump-era mass deportation agenda. Despite assurances from NYC Health and Hospitals that care will continue through restructured services, longtime staff and patients argue that the program's unique value lies not just in medical treatment, but in its integrated model—uniting doctors, mental health professionals, legal advocates, and social workers in one trusted space. Former patient Ibrahim shares how the program became a sanctuary and family, while Dr. Keller emphasizes that the program’s expertise, safety, and proven track record make its dismantling both illogical and dangerous. The episode highlights broader fears about medical institutions becoming sites of immigration enforcement, with listeners and advocates urging civic action to preserve this vital service.