HSA Statement on ICE

HSA Statement and Solidarity Actions for Friday, January 23

Dear HSA Members,

As healthcare workers and union members, we share a core commitment: hospitals must be places of safety, dignity, and care for all people. When policies or enforcement actions create fear in our communities or interfere with access to care, they directly undermine our work as clinicians, learners, and advocates for public health.

In recent weeks, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity has intensified across the Midwest, with significant impacts in Minneapolis–St. Paul and here in Chicago. Community members, workers, and healthcare professionals have raised serious concerns about the effects of these actions on immigrant communities, public trust, and safety. In Minnesota, medical staff at public hospitals have publicly expressed alarm about ICE presence in and around healthcare settings, warning that enforcement activity may deter patients from seeking care and disrupt the delivery of safe, effective medical services.

These concerns resonate deeply with us at Cook County Health. Many of the patients we serve — and many of our coworkers — are part of immigrant communities that already face structural barriers to accessing care. Actions that increase fear or uncertainty around hospitals risk worsening health outcomes, delaying treatment, and eroding the trust that is essential to patient care and medical education. Healthcare settings should be places of healing and learning — not sites of intimidation or enforcement.

In response to the escalation of ICE activity, labor unions and community coalitions in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area have called for a Day of Truth and Freedom on Friday, January 23. This action asks people to withhold labor and economic participation and to engage in protests or solidarity actions as a collective statement in support of immigrant communities and accountability in federal enforcement practices. While Minnesota is the focal point, solidarity actions and conversations are unfolding in cities across the country, including Chicago, reflecting a broader labor and immigrant justice movement.

It is important to understand that this call for action is not a traditional, contract-ratified strike under collective-bargaining protocols. Rather, it is a community- and labor-led mobilization grounded in shared values: dignity, safety, and care for working-class and immigrant communities. As healthcare workers and union members, we hold dual responsibilities — the right to engage in protected collective activity and the obligation to safeguard patient care and continuity of services.

For this reason, the most responsible ways for healthcare workers to engage are those that honor both our solidarity and our professional commitments. Participating off-duty or in non-work-related ways — such as community events, advocacy, education, or mutual aid — allows members to show support while ensuring that patient care and training responsibilities are not compromised. Actions that interfere with clinical duties or continuity of care may carry professional or contractual consequences, and members should remain mindful of workplace policies.

For those who are unable to attend protests or public actions, there are still powerful ways to support communities affected by ICE enforcement. This includes participating in Know-Your-Rights education, supporting mutual aid and legal defense efforts, and contributing to rapid-response funds that provide food, housing assistance, healthcare access, and legal support to impacted families. Collective care takes many forms — and all of them matter.

There are also concrete, everyday ways to demonstrate solidarity that are visible, values-aligned, and compatible with our roles as healthcare workers. Solidarity does not have to look the same for everyone. For members who want to participate in visible, values-aligned ways while remaining attentive to patient care and workplace responsibilities, here are a few meaningful options:

·       Wear HSA or union apparel on Friday as a visible sign of solidarity with immigrant communities and the broader labor movement.

·       Participate in the economic blackout where possible by avoiding purchases at the hospital café or nearby businesses across the street during the day.

·       Contribute to mutual aid by bringing:

o   Canned or boxed, shelf-stable food, or

o   Clean, gently used coats

Donation boxes will be available in the main lobby downstairs. If you have questions about appropriate items or distribution, social workers on your floor or in the Emergency Department can help guide you, or you can check in with a Family Medicine resident on the 8th floor.

For members who want to take an additional step beyond visible solidarity or mutual aid, contacting elected representatives can also be a quick and effective form of advocacy — and you do not need to be an expert to do it well. Many tools provide short scripts and automatically connect you to the correct offices:

·       5 Calls (5calls.org) — helps you find your federal and state representatives and provides brief call scripts on current issues.

·       USA.gov – Find Your Elected Officials (usa.gov/elected-officials) — a direct way to identify your representatives and their contact information.

·       ACLU Action (aclu.org/action) — offers advocacy resources and action alerts related to immigrant rights and civil liberties.

• If helpful, here is a short guiding script:

“As a constituent and healthcare worker, I am calling to urge my representative to oppose ICE operations in our cities, particularly in and around healthcare settings. I also urge support for policies that ensure access to care and patient safety for immigrant communities.”

These actions may feel small on their own, but taken together, they demonstrate collective care, shared values, and solidarity with communities directly impacted by immigration enforcement — all while honoring our responsibilities as healthcare workers.

HSA stands in solidarity with immigrant communities, healthcare workers, and labor organizations calling for systems rooted in care rather than punishment. We remain committed to advocating for hospitals that are safe spaces for healing and learning, to protecting our members, and to supporting the communities we serve. If you have questions or want to talk through how to engage thoughtfully, your HSA representatives are here to support you.

In solidarity,

Housestaff Association Leadership