Debora Kapisha, a registered nurse at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland who was recently detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has been released and is returning to Maine after colleagues held a protest on her behalf.
“We were able to organize a rally for Debora within 24 hours of finding out she had been detained by ICE,” said Kelli Brennan, a Maine Med registered nurse and leader with the Maine State Nurses Association.
“We had to take action, first to stop her from being transferred out of New England while in custody, but also to demand her release,” Brennan said. “We’re incredibly proud that nurses and the community came together in Portland to advocate for her.”
Kapisha, a medical-surgical nurse from Zambia, is legally authorized to live and work in the United States, according to the union. She was detained by ICE while traveling through Boston Logan International Airport. It was not immediately clear when Kapisha is expected to be back in Maine.
MaineHealth, which supported Kapisha’s attorneys and contacted Maine’s congressional delegation on her behalf, said it is aware she has been released and is returning to Maine.
“We take care to ensure that everyone who works for us is legally authorized to do so and are glad that immigration authorities were able to clear up this case quickly,” said Matt Wolden, chief operating officer at Maine Med.
MaineHealth also said that all employees are thoroughly vetted to ensure they are authorized to live and work in the United States.
