Minneapolis Health Care Workers Are Organizing to Defend Their Patients From ICE

"Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have created a crisis in Minneapolis hospitals since escalating anti-immigrant operations in the Minnesota city in early December. Health care workers who spoke to Truthout report that the number of agents in hospitals has risen sharply since the beginning of the year, with ailing or injured detainees regularly brought into emergency departments at multiple city hospitals at all hours, including overnight."

"Meanwhile, workers told Truthout that those federal agents have intimidated hospital staff and disregarded federal law, medical best practices, and hospital policies, often with limited pushback from hospital administrators. Where administrators have seemed reluctant to intervene, however, rank-and-file health care workers are stepping up to protect their colleagues and their patients - thanks to organizing and training efforts that began long before agents descended on the Twin Cities."

ICE operations in Minneapolis hospitals escalated beginning in early December, producing a mounting crisis for hospital staff and patients. The number of ICE agents in hospitals rose sharply at the start of the year, with ailing or injured detainees brought into emergency departments at multiple hospitals at all hours, including overnight. Federal agents have intimidated hospital staff and disregarded federal law, medical best practices, and hospital policies, often facing limited pushback from administrators. Where administrators have not intervened, organized and trained rank-and-file health care workers have stepped in to protect colleagues and patients. Several high-profile incidents have already occurred, including an entry into a major emergency department on December 31, 2025.

Read at Truthout