California nurses encouraged by new state law protecting health care facilities from immigration authorities

California Nurses Association (CNA), the largest union of registered nurses in the state of California, today celebrates the passage of Senate Bill 81 (S.B. 81) and urges Governor Gavin Newsom to sign it. Nurses say this critical legislation is an essential check on the power of immigration authorities in health care settings.

“As nurses, we not only take care of our patients, we advocate for them every day,” said Sandy Reding, RN and president of California Nurses Association. “That means rejecting this push to allow immigration authorities to do harm in spaces where people are trying to heal through open threats to immigrant communities, disregarding traditional safe havens. This new legislation is essential to protecting our patients to safely receive care without fear or intimidation and ensuring we can provide health care, which is a human right, without interference.”

“I’m grateful to my colleagues for advancing S.B. 81 with the urgency that is needed in this critical time where many Californians don’t feel safe to get the care they need. Healthcare is a human right — and no one should have to choose between seeking medical care and fearing harassment or intimidation. Not in California. Not anywhere,” said Sen. Jesse Arreguín.

California nurses have supported this law throughout the legislative process. “Hospitals are places where people go to be cared for and to feel safe as they focus on healing,” registered nurse and CNA board member Dolores Trujillo told lawmakers during testimony regarding the bill. “ICE agents are acting with unconditional authority, disregarding traditional safe havens.”

CNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the country’s largest nurses union, which has opposed the cancellation of sanctuary policies for hospitals, supported efforts towards federal accountability, spoken out to support activists, condemned ICE detentions made at hospitals, and encouraged patients to empower themselves with knowledge of their rights.

California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.