We grieve the tragic loss of Alex Pretti, Victor Manuel Diaz, Renee Good, and thousands of our neighbors who have been violently taken from their families, homes, workplaces, and our community.  We are now over 2 months into ICE’s intensified operation in Minnesota and federal ICE agents are continuing to escalate terror on our community, including a growing presence of federal ICE agents in healthcare facilities.  We demand ICE OUT of Minnesota NOW.

Over the last few weeks, nearly 400 healthcare workers participated in ICE OUT of HEALTHCARE trainings with SEIU Healthcare MN & IA.  Thank you to all who attended and who are now boldly and powerfully taking action with your co-workers.

If you missed it, we are offering this same training again – please join us to learn about what healthcare workers can do to protect each other and our patients – and get ICE OUT of HEALTHCARE.  We’ll cover your legal rights, what to do if you encounter ICE agents at work, and how we can organize our coworkers to demand our employers do more to protect us and our patients.  Register below:

ICE OUT of HEALTHCARE TRAININGS

• Saturday, February 7th at (12 pm – 2 pm): Register Here
• Thursday, February 12th (7pm- 9pm): Register Here
• Thursday, February 19th (Noon- 2pm): Register Here
• Thursday, February 26th  (7pm- 9pm): Register Here

All sessions will be virtual and last approximately two hours.  The trainings will not be recorded.

As union members, we know that power in numbers and solidarity with co-workers is our greatest strength. Let’s use our strength to meet this moment.

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Additionally, here are answers to FAQs related to the federal government’s immigration enforcement actions happening in our state:

What can I do if ICE agents come to my workplace?

• Know Your Rights: responding to ICE in healthcare

• Report ICE activity to the MONARCA Rapid Response Hotline

  • 612-441-2881

How can I prepare for the possibility of being detained?

• Please see this Emergency Family Preparation guide from the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.
• Resources for People Detained or Worried About Being Detained

Can I use ESST if I am afraid to go to work?
ESST can be used for absences for the following reasons:

• you or a family member’s mental or physical illness, treatment or preventive care.
• domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking of the employee or a family member.
• to make arrangements after the death of a family member.
• the closure of your workplace or your child’s school due to weather or public emergency.
• a healthcare worker determines you are at risk of infecting others with a communicable disease.

Employers may require documentation if an employee misses more than two consecutive scheduled workdays. The documentation provided does not have to be a note from a doctor. Employees can provide their own written statement, which does not have to be in English, notarized, or in any particular format. The statement must attest to being absent for one of the reasons above.

Can my employer provide the Department of Homeland Security employee records?
The Department of Homeland Security has the authority to audit any employer, regardless of sector, for compliance with Form I-9 rules. SEIU has demanded that employers notify us immediately if this occurs to enable a Union representative or attorney to take steps to protect the rights of employees.