PORTLAND, Ore. (Dec. 22, 2025) — The Oregon Nurses Association says recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Oregon hospitals has raised concerns among frontline healthcare workers about patient safety, privacy and access to care, while federal officials maintain that detainees are transported to medical facilities when treatment is needed and that officers operate within the law.
In a statement, the nurses union said immigrants are “vital members of our state and our healthcare system,” serving as nurses, providers, caregivers and essential staff. The association said ICE actions or the threat of them can create fear that discourages people from seeking medical care.
“No person should fear accessing necessary care,” the association said, adding that such fear “violates the most basic principles of being a frontline nurse, provider, or caregiver.”
The Oregon Nurses Association said that in recent months ICE has brought detainees to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland for medical treatment. According to the group, nurses and staff have reported what it described as “highly unusual ICE conduct,” including inconsistent application of the hospital’s policies compared with protocols used with other law-enforcement agencies.
“These discrepancies raise profound concerns about patient safety, legal compliance, and the protection of basic patient rights,” the association said.
The union said nurses have also identified gaps between Legacy’s written policies and what is occurring in practice. This week, the association formally notified the president of Legacy Emanuel Medical Center and requested a meeting within 14 days to address the issues.
Among its requests, the association called for steps including improved verification of ICE credentials, stronger clinical documentation of law-enforcement encounters, limits on officer presence in clinical areas during sensitive exams when appropriate, centralized handling of protected health information disclosures, and documentation of any care interruptions requested by law enforcement.
The association said its broader mission is to ensure healthcare settings remain focused on treatment rather than enforcement. “We are here to protect patient privacy, uphold human dignity, and provide compassionate, equitable care to every person who walks through the doors of the hospitals and clinics where we work,” the statement said.
Federal immigration officials have said in past statements that ICE transports individuals to hospitals only when medical care is required and that officers are trained to respect hospital policies, patient privacy laws and legal standards while maintaining custody and security responsibilities. ICE has also said enforcement actions are conducted in accordance with federal law and are intended to support public safety.
Legacy Health has not publicly commented on the specific concerns raised by the union. Hospitals generally state that they must balance patient care obligations with legal requirements to cooperate with law enforcement.
The Oregon Nurses Association, which represents more than 24,000 healthcare professionals statewide, said it will continue advocating for what it described as “safe, lawful, and dignified care” for all patients and for clear, transparent policies that maintain trust in the healthcare system.
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