What a mess in the realm of medicine.
During a special legislative session on Monday night, members of Zoran Mamdani’s political group instructed nurses on how to confront the NYPD and ICE.
Audio obtained by a newspaper revealed that what was presented as a briefing for striking nurses at Mount Sinai turned into a lengthy two-hour lecture from Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) organizers.
DSA members have made a bold humanitarian push against ICE, criticizing its operations as “busted,” labeling the NYPD as “untrustworthy,” and arguing that its $14 billion budget is excessive.
Many of the 1,600 nurses involved were left questioning the relevance of this discussion to their return to work.
A source shared that sentiments among the nurses indicated frustration with the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) leadership focusing on anti-ICE initiatives instead of the urgent need for contracts, especially with livelihoods and health coverage at stake.
The session, led by attorney Reema Nasrati, began by referencing Alex Preti, a protester fatally shot by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, who was also a nurse.
Nasrati explained that the intention of their program, which has also been presented to doctors and nurses at Elmhurst Hospital, was to educate on ICE’s authority, how to recognize and disrupt their agents, and how to document those encounters.
“What does ICE do?” Nasrati posed during the session.
He pointed out that the federal agency was established in 2003 post-9/11, stressing it’s “younger than the classic movie Shrek.”
“ICE is not an inevitability. Most of us have existed in a world without it,” he asserted.
Nasrati was accompanied by DSA trainer Dominique Schlossberg, who also engages with the New York City Council. He commented that he decided to take on this role during his own time over the summer.
Schlossberg, while addressing how to differentiate ICE agents from other law enforcement, made a rather awkward remark about them, commenting on their appearance and implying they skip leg day at the gym.
At one moment, Nasrati mentioned feeling “jealous” that Schlossberg was the only one capable of observing attendees’ reactions and feedback.
She expressed enthusiasm in asking how many participants voiced strong opposition to ICE.
Despite being promoted as a “strike briefing,” the union’s virtual gathering saw about 400 participants by the end.
Nasrati recalled a November ICE operation on Canal Street that was interrupted by protests, implying that the NYPD often aids ICE efforts.
“Generally, consider the NYPD as untrustworthy,” she remarked.
Some nurses voiced their anger towards the decision to have a political advocate speak at a meeting aimed at seeking support from the NYPD, which had stood by them.
When questioned about the NYPD’s relationship with ICE, Nasrati clarified that collaboration is not permitted due to New York City’s designation as a sanctuary city, which prohibits local law enforcement from inquiring about immigration status during arrests.
She acknowledged that such policies have strengthened since Mamdani took office on January 1, yet expressed skepticism regarding his association with the police chief position.
The session was coordinated by Kristen Amber “KA” Hogan, a nurse and union organizer at Mount Sinai Emergency Department, who identifies as someone committed to healthcare equality.
As on-call nurses strive for fair contracts, union leadership appears to prioritize partisan agendas over essential negotiations, suggesting that harmful radical narratives are infiltrating their ranks.
In response to Preti’s tragic death, National Nurses United issued a statement urging an immediate end to ICE.
In a response to the media, NYSNA shared a press release demanding the removal of ICE from hospitals.
Schlossberg declined to comment, while Nasrati and Hogan did not respond to inquiries.
Amid such charged and divisive messages, it’s no wonder there have been reports of an NYPD officer being harassed by hospital staff after being mistaken for an ICE agent.
Nursing professionals have openly posted on social media expressing hostility towards ICE agents or refusing to serve individuals with particular political views.
Nasrati continued to criticize legislation during her presentation, expressing disappointment over the broad bipartisan support it received when voted on last January.
She discussed Laken Riley’s tragic death, pointing out how her killer was an illegal immigrant who had been permitted entry into the U.S. under questionable circumstances.
Interestingly, Nasrati overlooked noting that Riley herself was a nursing student and could have been among their colleagues.
She seemed more focused on discussing the humanity of individuals who break immigration laws than on respecting law enforcement efforts in the city.
Nasrati didn’t shy away from attacking the NYPD while also pointing out the $85 billion increase in ICE’s budget under the previous administration.
“The NYPD’s $14 billion budget is absurdly high,” she said.
All of this targeting healthcare workers simply trying to secure fair pay—many of whom might have police officers in their families—raises questions.
Nasrati has made her disdain for the country’s founders quite apparent.
“The so-called Founding Fathers were, in some ways, right that government interference in our lives is problematic,” she stated.
It’s perplexing: if the U.S. is so unsuitable, why do people risk breaking the law to stay here? And why are the DSA members so focused on stopping deportations?
It’s clear that agency members lack a genuine concern for immigrants’ roles in society.
As rank-and-file NYSNA members weigh challenging union leadership, it seems officials are more interested in political conflicts than in achieving better contract negotiations for nurses.
