ICE detains hospital nurse, prompting protests from coworkers calling for her release

PORTLAND, Maine (WMTW) — Healthcare workers in Portland rallied Wednesday to demand the release of a registered nurse they say was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The protest was held in support of Debora Kapisha, a registered nurse at Maine Medical Center. The Maine State Nurses Association said ICE agents detained Kapisha last week.

Kapisha is from Zambia. The union said she is authorized to live and work in the United States while her asylum claim is pending.

Transfer to Louisiana planned, union says

According to the union, ICE was planning to transfer Kapisha from Massachusetts, where she was detained, to Louisiana.

WMTW could not independently verify Kapisha’s immigration status. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Maine Medical Center’s operating group also did not respond.