More than 300 frontline and essential healthcare workers at North Memorial Health have signed and delivered an open letter to the hospital’s Board of Trustees calling for immediate action to address what they describe as serious safety, ethical, and legal concerns related to the presence and conduct of agents from ICE and Boarder Patrol within hospital facilities. The signatories represent a broad cross-section of the hospital workforce, including physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, patient transport staff, housekeeping, dietary workers, material handlers, and other essential personnel.

In the letter, employees state that federal agents have entered the hospital without what they describe as written judicial authorization, have accessed patient care areas while armed and without proper identification, and have interfered with patient care. Workers further allege that agents have engaged in conduct that caused emotional and psychological distress to detained patients and created an atmosphere of fear among staff and the surrounding community.

The open letter outlines five specific requests to hospital leadership:

1. Enforce existing policies requiring all law enforcement officers to display badges and appropriate identification at all times.

2. Develop a distinct policy addressing ICE and Border Patrol presence, clarifying protections for patients under civil custody versus criminal custody, safeguarding patient rights, and expressly prohibiting surveillance of staff.

3. Create a real-time notification system alerting staff —and the broader Northside community — when ICE or Border Patrol agents are present in the facility.

4. Protect staff rights to engage in legally protected concerted activities under the National Labor Relations Act, including social media use.

5. Take an unambiguous public position prioritizing patient, staff, and community safety above all other concerns.