Portland Nurses Rally for Release of Maine Medical Center Nurse

Nurses at Maine Medical Center are calling for the release of a colleague who was detained by federal immigration agents while traveling through Boston last week.

The Maine State Nurses Association says Immigration and Customs Enforcement took registered nurse Debora Kapisha into custody at Boston Logan International Airport on July 30.

According to the union, Kapisha is originally from Zambia and is legally authorized to live and work in the United States while her asylum application is being processed. She works as a medical-surgical nurse at Maine Medical Center.

The union says Kapisha was expected to be transferred from Massachusetts to a detention facility in Louisiana on Wednesday, placing her farther away from her family, attorneys and support network.

WGME is reporting that nurses planned an emergency protest Wednesday morning near Maine Medical Center’s Western Promenade entrance, demanding Kapisha’s immediate release. They are also calling on Maine Medical Center to formally sponsor her for permanent residency.

The demonstration was scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m.

News Center Maine reports that it has contacted ICE and Maine Medical Center for comment.