Community Support Helps Nurse Return Home
A registered nurse has reunited with her family after a difficult week, thanks to support from community members and colleagues at Maine Medical Center. They advocated for her release from immigration detention. In her first public statement since being released Thursday evening, the nurse, Debora Kapisha, expressed gratitude. “I am so thankful to be home and can’t wait to return to my co-workers and patients,” she said. Sara English, another nurse at Maine Medical Center, read this statement on Kapisha’s behalf during a news conference on Friday morning organized by National Nurses United and its affiliate, the Maine State Nurses Association.
Union and Community Advocacy
Janelle Crowley, a NICU nurse and union leader, emphasized solidarity, “We protect each other and we protect our patients. In this case, we stood up for and protected Debora.”
Originally from Zambia, Kapisha is a dedicated medical-surgical nurse specializing in dialysis patients. “It’s a tough unit to work on,”
shared Kelli Brennan, co-president of the Maine State Nurses Association. Brennan stressed the importance of Kapisha’s role. “It’s definitely an area that needs her,”
she noted.
Kapisha has a pending asylum case. Courtesy of her family, it was revealed ICE detained her on July 30 while she was at Boston’s Logan International Airport. While ICE stated Kapisha entered the U.S. legally on a five-month visa and “failed to depart”
before it expired, her union and employer assert she has been lawfully living and working in the U.S. while awaiting her asylum outcome.
Ongoing Concern in Healthcare
MaineHealth’s Southern Region president, Britt Crewse, voiced concern over her arrest. “This individual appears to have been living and working here legally,”
he remarked.
Kapisha’s detainment underlines how healthcare workers are ensnared in strict immigration policies. A surge in immigration enforcement in Maine, along with ICE-related incidents, have caused significant impacts on hospital functions. Brennan mentioned these events have led to staff shortages and increased responsibilities beyond normal duties, such as doctors transporting patients in hallways.
The fear of immigration raids has permeated the hospital environment. Brennan described how colleagues were fearful of leaving their homes, and patients hesitated to attend appointments. “We rely on immigrants to help run our healthcare system,”
she emphasized, highlighting the essential role immigrants play.
Crewse further noted that heightened immigration enforcement has left many on the healthcare team feeling apprehensive. The supportive network within the healthcare community remains a critical aspect as they continue to advocate for Kapisha and contend with the broader implications.