A major nurses union is quietly training members to “fight” federal immigration enforcement inside hospitals—raising new questions about whether politics is being put ahead of law and public safety.

Secretive “Fight ICE” Trainings Put Hospital Enforcement on a Collision Course

ONA scheduled early-morning training sessions aimed at teaching nurses how to “fight against ICE” and CBP presence in hospitals, while explicitly prohibiting recording or public posting of the material. The secrecy became a central issue after the outlet reported that it had reviewed an email promoting the sessions and quoted an attending nurse who questioned whether the union feared the content might be “against the law.” ONA’s communications director defended the sessions, but the whole curriculum remains undisclosed.

ONA’s public defense framed the trainings as practical guidance, not a call for chaos. The union said nurses need clear direction on what to do when federal agents appear in care settings, particularly around patient confidentiality and medical autonomy. ONA argued that an enforcement presence can discourage people from seeking care and can interfere with nurses’ ethical and legal duties. The union’s stance centers on clinical obligations, though the “fight” framing has fueled skepticism.

Alex Pretti Case Fuels National Organizing and Escalating Rhetoric

Union activism accelerated after the death of Alex Pretti, a registered nurse described in union communications as being killed during an ICE enforcement action. NNU promoted the case as a catalyst for a “week of action,” including candlelight vigils and pressure campaigns urging lawmakers to vote against spending packages that fund ICE. NNU also claimed 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025 and highlighted additional deaths it attributes to enforcement activity.

NNU leadership used unusually harsh language, describing ICE as a “lawless paramilitary force” and calling for the agency’s abolition. That rhetoric matters because ONA is not acting alone; it is part of a national network with significant membership and resources. The practical effect is that local hospital disputes in Oregon can quickly become national messaging campaigns, combining workplace training, lobbying, and electoral pressure into a single political strategy.

Oregon Legislation Targets Immigration Enforcement in Medical Settings

ONA’s training effort is running in parallel with legislative action in Oregon. As of Jan. 30, 2026, ONA and Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill to limit immigration enforcement in hospitals. That shift—from internal trainings to statewide policy—raises stakes for patients, providers, and federal officials. If adopted, such restrictions could alter how hospitals respond to warrants, agent requests, and on-site enforcement activity, potentially creating new compliance burdens.

What’s Known, What’s Not, and Why Transparency Matters

Current reporting leaves major gaps that make the story difficult to evaluate beyond the documented facts. The specific training content is not public, attendance numbers are not provided, and the cited materials do not include any outside legal analysis assessing whether any guidance conflicts with federal law. Hospital administrators’ responses also remain unclear. For constitutional-minded readers, that lack of transparency is the point: secret trainings to “fight” federal agents invite distrust.

Major Nurses Union Holds Secretive Training Sessions To ‘Fight Against ICE’

"Trainings will not be recorded or posted online."https://t.co/CSlIEuTNRc

— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) January 31, 2026

Hospitals sit at the crossroads of compassion and the realities of the rule of law. Nurses have real ethical duties, but immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and federal-state conflict often falls on local institutions. When a union tells members to prepare for confrontations with federal agencies and then refuses to allow recording, Americans are right to ask what is being taught, who is accountable, and whether patients and staff will be protected if a tense encounter turns chaotic.

Sources:

Major Nurses Union Holds Secretive Training Sessions To ‘Fight Against ICE’

Nurses mobilize to back Alameda County “ICE-free zones,” immigration enforcement response plans

NNU to hold week of action to honor Alex Pretti, RN and all others killed by ICE

Oregon nurses union immigration enforcement bill

All resources you need: Immigration and ICE