Largest nurses union in US vows to 'crush ICE for our patients'

The largest nurses union in the United States has vowed to "crush ICE for our patients." The National Nurses United represents over 225,000 RNs across the United States. 

The post stated alongside the hashtag "Abolish ICE," "Nurses take a sacred oath to advocate for our patients so when armed agents create a climate of fear in our communities, we take action! Nurses don't just treat symptoms – we fight the causes." It included a graphic of a foot stepping on ICE. 

In a separate video posted on Tuesday, the union urged Congress to cut funding to ICE and redirect it to healthcare. "I am originally from Minnesota, so this is really near and dear to my heart. I think it’s disgusting that we’re spending so much money on all of these avenues to rid of people who are actually valuable to us as nurses and are people that we take care of every day. So we want to make sure that Congress knows, as nurses, we want to abolish ICE and make sure that our community and us as nurses are safe every day," a woman said.

"Congress sending money to ICE could be better spent on us as nurses and our community. You know, our infrastructure, public transportation, just healthcare in general. You know, we have a lot of corners that are being cut currently and we could really use, in the nursing perspective, we could really use that to make sure that our patients get the care that they need."

Ohio state Rep John Williams said in response to the union, "this is the largest union of nurses in the country and they're calling to abolish ICE. Sorry, but being a nurse doesn't mean you get to veto enforcement of federal immigration law. That's why I've introduced HB281 in Ohio-- which would require hospitals to cooperate with ICE."

On the union’s website, it includes on its front page a link to "RN immigrant rights resources." The page states, "The Trump Administration has changed the rules, no longer designating hospitals, as well as schools and churches, as 'sensitive areas,' free from immigration enforcement. Nurses make a vow to care for all people, and we know hospitals should remain places of healing, where all people can receive care, without fear. Armed, masked ICE agents are standing in the way of nurses effectively caring for patients - the resources on this page will aid nurses in advocating for all patients regardless of immigration status."

Among the resources issued by the union is a flyer titled "As patient advocates, we must protect against ICE intimidation." The flyer includes a graphic that states, "they blame immigrants so you won’t blame billionaires." It tells union members that if ICE comes to their hospital, they should demand that no ICE or immigration agents be allowed in patient care areas "without a signed, valid judicial warrant," demand that "management protect nurses, patients, and their families against ICE abuses," "assure your patient that nurses will defend their right to safe patient care regardless of immigration status," and call their local union local representative "immediately."

Another flyer urges members to call their senator and demand that they abolish ICE. The flyer states, "You take on one of us, you take on all of us."