Concerns arise surrounding ICE presence in health care settings - The Gonzaga Bulletin

After the killing of nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last month by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, Gonzaga University staff and students are worried about what this could mean for healthcare outcomes.

Molly Parker, an assistant professor of nursing, said her background is in population health and working with farm workers and community organizations aimed at decreasing health disparities for rural workers.

“I see policies that are directly impacting health outcomes for populations,” Parker said. “Actions as a result of current policy are impacting people’s health, and I don’t feel like that can be denied or argued.”

Parker said because of policies within the U.S. focused on federal immigration, she has seen poorer health among people of color and those who lack citizenship.

“Their health and well-being is being threatened,” Parker said. “Their ability to go to appointments and go to work is being threatened. So, it’s impacting their health in real time right now.”

Parker said on top of people of color being targeted by federal immigration enforcement, the health of those who want to speak out in support of immigrant communities is also being targeted.

Because situations like this have not happened previously, Parker said she believes the College of Nursing and the university at large are unsure of how to proceed.

“There’s no ‘We are nurses. We do this.’ I don’t think that exists,” Parker said. “You have those core ethics, but people interpret them based on their own morals and values.”

Parker said this diversity of opinion within the nursing field lead some teachers to stay away from political topics in classroom settings. But, she said with ICE enforcement, people should be having conversations surrounding the topic.

“I think that what is needed going forward is acknowledgement of the threats that are out there, acknowledgement of the impacts on public health, public safety and human health,” Parker said.

Parker also said that, as health care workers, the best way to help the communities targeted by ICE agents is to attend “Know Your Rights” trainings and learn how to advocate for patients. She said this is continual work, as federal laws and situations change often.

Bong Bong Barro, a sophomore nursing student, said that although he is not working in a hospital yet, he is attentive to how healthcare spaces are responding to the issues surrounding immigration enforcement. He said personal connections bring this to the forefront of his mind.

“It’s concerning, ICE being in the hospital settings,” Barro said. “In Tacoma, there was an ICE [contractor]who left a gun in the bathroom at St. Joseph Medical Center, which is a hospital I used to volunteer at.”

Barro said this lack of safety in a hospital setting is worrisome, especially when it hits this close to home.

“It’s a huge healthcare issue right now, especially for our marginalized communities,” Barro said. “It’s concerning to hear that some of the nursing [professors] here don’t align with that.”

Barro said both the GU mission statement and the nursing code of ethics are aimed at fostering diversity and promoting human flourishing. He also said he is concerned about those individual interpretations within the nursing profession at large and on campus.

“Something stood out to me when Charlie Kirk was murdered,” Barro said. “It’s interesting that some nursing faculty felt the need to discuss that in class, but when it comes to other murders, especially with Alex Pretti, who’s an ICU registered nurse who worked at the VA, I haven’t heard anything.”

Barro said the deaths of Renee Good and Pretti should have been a “wake up call” for those that had not yet thought about immigration enforcement in the U.S..

“It’s not just an isolated issue anymore,” Barro said. “It’s not just Black and brown people, it’s everyone.”

Barro said he was disheartened by the lack of conversation and education within the nursing department on the topic, due to the challenges that it brings to marginalized patients and caregivers.

“Nurses are often the first point of contact, especially as we will be the ones to provide the one-to-one care,” Barro said.

On Feb. 2, the chief nurse administrator at GU, Joan Owens, sent a statement out to the nursing department talking about the current political climate and sharing resources available for students wanting to support their marginalized neighbors.

Barro said the statement made by Owens was beneficial, but fell short of what he hoped the nursing department would do.

“I appreciated her acknowledging what’s going on and providing resources,” Barro said. “The timing [of the statement] did seem kind of disingenuous. We look very performative right now.”