Health care providers at Mayo Clinic walk out in protest of ICE, CBP operations
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ICE Out protests took place all across Minnesota Friday, with demonstrators calling for an end to the ramped up federal immigration enforcement actions. Those participating closed their shops, or walked out of class or work, with many of them braving the dangerous bitter cold weather to protest outside.
Among them are some health care providers in Rochester.
Dozens of Mayo Clinic resident physicians and fellows staged a 15-minute walk out, risking frostbite in icy winds and a temperature of minus 10. While they couldn't leave their patients for long to protest, the participants said they felt it was important to send a message.
"We wanted to show support for all those who are affected by the latest ICE movements in Minnesota,” said Ted Miclau, a Mayo Clinic resident, “and just let people know that they're not alone and that we're thinking about them.”
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The medical professionals gathered outside one of the main medical campuses, St. Mary’s, and at the Peace Plaza in downtown Rochester.
Mayo Clinic staff weren’t the only health care providers protesting Friday. Providers at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, for example, did a similar walk out at the same time Friday.
The protesters outside of Mayo stressed that they’re concerned about how the ICE and Border Control enforcement operations are impacting their patients and the work and type of care that providers can do. Many patients aren’t showing up for appointments, and some aren’t picking up their prescriptions.
Jeremy Harrison, a psychiatry resident at Mayo, said ICE's presence is harming the mental health of his patients in Rochester. And it's impacting how he can work with them, too.
"I'm currently on the child unit, and some parents are uncomfortable coming in to participate in therapeutic programming with their kids,” Harrison said. “Even people who are citizens, but don't speak English well, are concerned about being profiled.”
“As somebody who works in mental health — seeing the way this has directly impacted the mental health of our community — I wanted to come out and show support for the people who are suffering,” Harrison told MPR News.
— Molly Castle Work, MPR News
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