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Military veterans, VA healthcare workers, faith leaders, and elected officials are rallying to speak out against the use of the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Medical Center as a staging ground for ICE operations in the Chicagoland area.

“ICE has been given a green light to target our community members. This includes veterans. The VA is a space for healing, not a place to stage racist raids on our community. We don’t want ICE at the VA. We don’t want ICE in the Chicagoland area.” says Aaron Hughes, a National Guard veteran and member of About Face: Veterans Against the War.

For over a week the administration at Hines VA Medical Center has reserved space on their campus for ICE vehicles, their presence threatens the safety of veterans and impedes on their ability to get the health care they need. Military veterans come from all communities, including immigrant ones. The Hines VA is a minority-serving institution. The US Supreme Court has ruled that federal immigration forces may use racial and ethnic profiling for stops, detainment, and apprehension. This ruling makes it impossible for the VA to be a staging ground for ICE and fulfill its mission, “... to care for … America’s Veterans.” This year has already seen both military veterans and US citizens deported.

Veterans groups and VA patients are saying that the VA’s collaboration with ICE makes them unsafe, is causing psychic stress, and is impeding their ability to receive necessary care. Healthcare workers are also concerned that the VA’s collaboration with ICE is impeding their ability to see and care for their patients.

“As a union member and a veteran we have a responsibility to speak out about safety. As a veteran I do not feel safe in the shadow of ICE. As a veteran of color, I now carry a passport card because I fear my VA ID won’t be enough,” says Henry Vega, a US Army veteran and Hines VA SEIUHCII steward.

“Veterans come from all communities. ICE using our place of healing as a means to terrorize and threaten our communities is unacceptable,” says Alex Foss, a US Navy veteran and member of About Face: Veterans Against the War.