California Nurses Association has learned through credible reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) representatives presented a warrant at Glendale Memorial Hospital and took a patient into custody by removing the patient from the facility through a side door apparently against the medical advice of the patient’s physician. 

The nurses of California Nurses Association categorically condemn such actions by ICE and any government agency, and warn that this case sets an extremely dangerous precedent for all patients now and into the future: The government and courts will be able to override the professional judgment of medical providers to carry out their own agenda. This is absolutely unacceptable and violates established ethical and patient care standards not only for this  individual, but also for the public health and safety.

Nurses insist that hospitals, clinics, and other medical settings remain places of healing for all people. We reject any ICE presence or ICE enforcement activities in health care settings. We will continue to advocate for all patients and monitor the situation and speak out against such actions.