Kaiser threatens to fire SF nurse over lapsed DACA status

"Kaiser Permanente nurses are protesting the healthcare giant's plan to terminate at least one nurse who is caught in a monthslong delay renewing her immigration work authorization."

"The nurse, who was granted anonymity under Hearst's ethics policy because she fears being deported, filed her DACA renewal paperwork in December 2025 and is still waiting for it to be processed five months later. The Trump administration told the Associated Press last week that it is "more thoroughly screening" DACA recipients, which immigration advocates say could be grounds for the administration deporting the longtime U.S. residents."

"In March, Kaiser placed the San Francisco Medical Center operating room nurse on a 30-day unpaid administrative leave, and she expects to be terminated after the leave expires on Thursday. "I am angry. Kaiser said they have no obligation to extend my leave," the nurse told SFGATE. "The fact they are willing to terminate employees who are so integral to this community without offering protection is completely unfair.""

"The nurse said Kaiser told her that maintaining valid work authorization is her responsibility, and without it, she would be fired. As of Monday, she said Kaiser had not told her whether she would receive severance or what her next steps would be. The nurse, who has worked for Kaiser for two years, said she loves her job and feels "helpless" and "abandoned" by the company's decision."

A Kaiser Permanente operating room nurse in San Francisco is facing termination after a monthslong delay renewing immigration work authorization under DACA. The nurse filed renewal paperwork in December 2025 and was still waiting five months later. Kaiser placed her on a 30-day unpaid administrative leave in March, and she expects to be terminated when the leave ends. The nurse says Kaiser told her maintaining valid work authorization is her responsibility and that she would be fired without it. She fears deportation and requested anonymity. Immigration advocates warn that increased screening could lead to deportations of long-term U.S. residents. Kaiser did not provide comment.

Read at SFGATE