National Nurses United fights for patients – which means fighting ICE
National Nurses United (NNU) is the largest union representing professional nurses across multiple states in the U.S. They have a long-standing commitment to advocating for safe patient-to-nurse staffing ratios. The NNU campaign for Medicare For All has had success in challenging elected officials to endorse legislation to guarantee healthcare as a right for all workers.
This month, NNU launched the Red Alert-Save Our Hospitals Tour. In a press release, the union stated: “As the most trusted profession, nurses have a long, proud history of taking action to protect public health. That’s why we’re launching a national Red Alert hospital tour to build community power and to save vulnerable U.S. hospitals from cuts to care or closure.” (nationalnursesunited.org)
NNU’s commitment to patients extends to undocumented workers. NNU has been one of the stronger voices among organized labor in denouncing the latest attack on immigrants and the brutality of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The union calls out the injustice of slashing Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies and Medicaid while spending workers’ tax dollars on the unlawful terror of ICE attacks on communities.
It is “fighting back against this cruelty, demanding a healthy society based on care and compassion.” To protect nurses and their immigrant patients, NNU has developed “Know Your Rights” materials to educate them about being confronted by ICE.
Hospitals were always considered protected spaces and it is wise for all healthcare workers to be aware of their legal right to defend patient privacy and well-being if ICE enters their facility. NNU called on nurses across the country to organize actions calling on Congress to abolish ICE.
For example, NNU held an action in Whitesburg, Kentucky, to call attention to the possible closure of a local hospital. This potential closing is a result of the Trump administration’s bill that guts Medicaid in order to provide tax breaks for the billionaire class – and to give more money to ICE.
Nurses in Whitesburg spoke out about how ICE makes hospitals less safe and disrupts patient care, in addition to robbing rural hospitals of funds. Whitesburg is near Harlan and Hazard, Kentucky, and nurses from those communities joined the action in solidarity. Kentucky State AFL-CIO President Dustin Reinstedler joined the rally, speaking strongly against ICE and mentioning the murder of Alex Pretti, Veterans Administration nurse and fellow union member (American Federation of Government Employees Local 3669).
As an NNU spokesperson at the rally stated: “ICE has only been around since 2003 and we can do without them. If you can’t abide by the Constitution you have to go. Take the money (for ICE) and give it to our patients and communities so we can keep our hospitals open and our families healthy.” (tinyurl.com/Kentucky-NNU)
While health care declines, nurses resist!
Workers in the U.S. are suffering because of the deterioration of patient care in the profit-driven healthcare industry. Hospitals are shutting down if they do not generate enough profit for shareholders. Entire maternity departments are disappearing. Gender-affirming care is under attack by right-wing extremists. The debacle that was the government’s slow response to the COVID-19 pandemic cost over a million deaths, higher than any other country.
The current administration’s cuts to Medicare and Medicaid have accelerated the cost-cutting measures hospital bosses are willing to take at the expense of accessible quality health care for the working class. Becker’s Hospital Review reported on the closure of two healthcare facilities just this week in what has become an alarming trend.
The Regional Medical Center of Bradford, Pennsylvania, part of Buffalo Kaleida Health, shut down all inpatient and emergency services. “Federal funding cuts and long-standing financial pressures across the healthcare industry have accelerated the challenges we face and the decisions we are considering or have already made,” said Don Boyd, president and CEO of Kaleida Health. (beckershospitalreview.com, Feb. 20)
Becker’s also noted the increasing number of healthcare facilities that are eliminating staff to cut operating costs.
Nursing strike demands always include patient-nurse staffing ratios. Two of the largest strikes by professional nurses happened in 2026. The New York City nurses’ strike over staffing ratios impacted three major hospital systems in the city. The Kaiser-Permanente strike in California and Hawaii of 31,000 healthcare workers, including nurses, is entering its fourth week and is over similar demands.
In fact, the nurses at New York Presbyterian fought hard and won improved staffing guarantees and safeguards against artificial intelligence replacing direct patient care by a professional nurse.
Whether it’s resisting ICE or fighting for better health care for all, nurses are a fighting force!
Otis Grotewohl contributed to this article.
