Free Nurse Debora Kapisha From ICE Detention

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The Issue

Debora Kapisha is a nurse at Maine Medical Center in Portland who came to the United States seeking asylum. On July 30, federal immigration agents detained her while she passed through Boston's Logan Airport, and she has been in ICE custody ever since.

More than 100 nurses, union members and community leaders rallied outside the hospital to demand her release. Coworkers describe Kapisha as kind, hardworking and compassionate, someone who isn't easy to replace and whose absence patients and colleagues are already feeling. As Maine state Rep. Deqa Dhalac told the crowd, immigration agents claim they are removing criminals, but cases like Kapisha's show who is actually getting swept up: hardworking nurses and community members that Maine depends on.

MaineHealth, the hospital system that employs Kapisha, has the resources to step in and hasn't fully used them. The hospital could write a letter of support, contribute toward her bond, or sponsor a green card so she can keep working without living in fear of detention. Taking that step would set an example for every employer across Maine that relies on immigrant workers to keep hospitals, farms and businesses running.

Kapisha isn't the first Maine healthcare worker ICE has detained, and without real intervention from her employer, she won't be the last. Every day she stays in custody is a day her patients go without a nurse who knows them and a day her community waits for her to come home.

Sign this petition to demand MaineHealth step up and bring Debora Kapisha home before another Maine nurse pays the price simply for showing up to work.

E
Petition AdvocateElizabeth L

The Decision Makers

Susan Collins
U.S. Senate - Maine
MaineHealth
MaineHealth
Markwayne Mullin
Markwayne Mullin
Secretary of Homeland Security

Supporter Voices

Petition Updates