Statement on Immigration Enforcement in Hospitals
As nurses and healthcare professionals, our primary responsibility is to provide compassionate, ethical, and high-quality care to all patients, regardless of their background, status, or circumstance. We are not agents of law enforcement, nor do we serve any role in immigration enforcement. Our duty is to our patients—to their health, their dignity, and their well-being.
We recognize that immigrants, refugees, and other vulnerable populations often face systemic barriers, targeted discrimination, and heightened fear when seeking medical care. Let us be clear: every individual deserves access to safe, unbiased, and confidential healthcare. No one should ever hesitate to seek medical attention out of fear of exposure, judgment, or reprisal.
Patient privacy is a fundamental right, protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This means that all sensitive patient information remains strictly confidential and will never be shared with outside entities, including immigration authorities, without explicit legal obligation or patient consent. Nurses and healthcare workers are bound by our ethical and legal commitments to safeguard this trust, ensuring that no one is denied care due to fear of persecution or discrimination.
Furthermore, we stand firmly against policies or practices that seek to marginalize or criminalize immigrant communities. The integrity of our profession rests on the belief that healthcare is a human right. We advocate for policies that protect immigrant patients, support their access to healthcare, and uphold their dignity. We will not be complicit in any actions that undermine these principles.
To all those who may feel afraid or uncertain: Know that you are safe in our care. Know that your rights and privacy are protected. Know that we, as nurses and healthcare providers, are unwavering in our commitment to your health and humanity. No matter where you come from or what challenges you face, we are here to provide care without fear, without judgment, and without exception.
Supporting Our Whole Community
Since 1905, Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) members have been unwavering advocates for social and economic justice, embodying the labor movement’s historic motto: “An injury to one is an injury to all.” This principle drives our commitment to protecting the rights, dignity, and well-being of all workers and communities, including people of color, Indigenous communities, immigrants, and all marginalized groups who face systemic discrimination and injustice.
In the wake of increasing attacks on transgender individuals, women, communities of color, workers, and immigrant populations, MNA remains committed to opposing efforts by far-right legislators that seek to restrict access to healthcare, limit civil rights, and undermine the basic human dignity of ourselves and our neighbors. These attacks contradict MNA’s mission to promote public health, equity, and safety for all.
MNA opposes all state and federal legislative efforts that infringe on the rights of historically marginalized communities, including restrictions on healthcare, education, employment, and public services. We stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ organizations, racial justice groups, immigrant rights advocates, labor unions and healthcare organizations to advance policies that protect the rights and dignity of all people.
As members of the most trusted profession in the U.S., nurses understand that racism, xenophobia, transphobia, and all forms of discrimination are public health crises that harm individuals and communities alike. To our Black, Indigenous, immigrant, LGBTQ, and other marginalized neighbors: we see you, value you, and stand with you. Together, we will build a safer, more just, and inclusive Minnesota.
We call on our members, allies, and communities to take action. Contact your elected officials, support organizations fighting for equity, and speak out against injustice. Together, through solidarity and collective action, we can build a more just, inclusive, and compassionate Minnesota.
Resources
Nurses for Democracy: Resources – National Nurses United
ICE in our Hospitals? Know your Rights – National Nurses United
Past Statements
2023
On December 14, the MNA Board endorsed an NNU statement on the crisis in the Middle East. Read the statement here: National Nurses United Statement on the Crisis in the Middle East
2021
Statement on International Worker’s Day