Nurses who swear an oath to heal the sick now rally against federal agents enforcing immigration law, claiming it terrorizes patients—even as they pledge to never abandon their hospital shifts.
Story Snapshot
- Minnesota Nurses Association backs January 23, 2026, “ICE Out of Minnesota” economic blackout and rally against ICE operations.
- Catalyzed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shooting unarmed Renee Good in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026.
- MNA explicitly rejects work stoppages, urging nurses to report to work as an “act of solidarity” with immigrants.
- ICE agents in hospitals like Hennepin Healthcare create fear, deterring patients from seeking care.
- Broad coalition includes SEIU, AFL-CIO federations, prompted DFL lawmakers to demand hospital anti-ICE policies.
Renee Good’s Fatal Shooting Ignites Labor Fury
ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed unarmed Renee Good in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026. National Nurses United condemned the incident immediately, labeling armed federal agents the real threat to community safety. The shooting spurred rapid mobilization. Within days, thousands of ICE agents deployed across Minnesota communities. Nurses cited this violence as proof that enforcement endangers public health, driving immigrants away from hospitals.
MNA Board of Directors issued a statement on January 13, 2026, amid rising tensions. Postal workers rallied January 18 at a memorial for Good, protesting ICE use of postal property for raids. These events built momentum for the statewide action, framing ICE as a barrier to care in immigrant-heavy areas like Latina and Somali neighborhoods.
Minnesota Nurses Association Urges Medical Professionals to Join Anti-ICE Protests https://t.co/hjpE0zoiVE
— DLW 🔥#MAGA (@Dlw20161950) January 20, 2026
MNA Draws Firm Line on Protests Versus Patient Care
Minnesota Nurses Association announced support for “ICE Out of Minnesota: A Day of Truth and Freedom” on January 17, 2026. The event features a statewide economic blackout and 2:00 p.m. rally on January 23. MNA President Chris Rubesch emphasized nurses must honor no-strike contract provisions and report to work. She positioned showing up for shifts as solidarity, since fear of ICE keeps patients from seeking treatment.
Jeremy Olson, MNA second vice president and Hennepin Healthcare nurse, reported heightened anxiety from ICE presence. Agents lingered at bedsides without warrants, including one case exceeding 24 hours. Staff described handcuffing patients to beds. Olson stressed politics belongs away from the bedside. This nuanced stance highlights nurses’ ethical bind: advocate without abandoning duties.
ICE Presence Sparks Hospital Chaos and Policy Demands
ICE agents entered Twin Cities hospitals, alarming medical staff at Hennepin County Medical Center. Patients delayed care due to deportation fears, creating a public health crisis. DFL lawmakers, including nurse State Senator Liz Boldon, demanded clear hospital policies on ICE access. Boldon argued even potential ICE presence blocks care, urging facilities prioritize patient safety over enforcement.
Hennepin Healthcare confirmed agents left after documentation requests but lacked formal protocols. National Nurses United called ICE militarization a direct threat to healthcare missions. Nurses argued armed agents intimidate vulnerable families, tearing them apart when they need care most. Coalition partners like SEIU and all Minnesota AFL-CIO councils amplified these concerns.
Conservative View on Nurses’ Activism and Law Enforcement
MNA’s protests against ICE reflect union priorities favoring immigrants over border security, yet facts show nurses prioritize patients by rejecting walkouts—a common-sense choice aligning with professional oaths. Claims of ICE “terrorizing” hospitals warrant scrutiny; agents target criminals, not routine care-seekers. DFL lawmakers’ push for sanctuary policies risks shielding lawbreakers, undermining rule of law that conservatives uphold. Labor solidarity sounds noble but ignores fiscal burdens on taxpayers from unchecked immigration.
Evidence confirms Good’s shooting and hospital incidents, but unions frame enforcement as violence without full context on her circumstances or agent actions. American conservative values demand secure borders and accountability—nurses serve best focusing on healing, not politics. This action tests whether healthcare remains neutral ground or becomes another activism battleground.
Sources:
MN Nurses Association encourages participation in ICE Out Minnesota
