Nurses Stage Eight-City Protest Against Palantir's ICE Work

Nurses mobilize against tech giant's dual healthcare role

Registered nurses and community supporters demonstrated in eight cities last week demanding hospitals and government officials sever relationships with Palantir Technologies. The coordinated action, organized by National Nurses United (NNU), marks the union's most extensive campaign against the data analytics company to date, according to reporting first published by People's World.

Protests occurred in Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Portland (Maine), Asheville, Austin, and New Orleans. In Chicago, demonstrators rallied outside the Cook County Pension Board, where nurse pension funds hold millions in Palantir investments. Protesters temporarily blocked West Madison Street, chanting "No ICE, no war, no Palantir!"

Why it matters

The protests highlight growing tension between healthcare workers and technology companies operating in both government surveillance and clinical settings. As hospitals increasingly adopt AI and automation tools, nurses are questioning whether vendors with immigration enforcement contracts should access patient data and shape care delivery systems. The pension fund angle adds financial pressure, giving nurses leverage to influence institutional investment decisions.

Dual concerns drive nurse opposition

NNU's campaign centers on two interconnected issues: Palantir's provision of surveillance technology to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for identifying and arresting individuals, and the company's expanding contracts with hospital systems.

"No part of the country has been untouched by the terror and violence of ICE and CBP, enabled by Palantir's technology," NNU President Jamie Brown stated. Brown connected immigration enforcement to healthcare conditions, noting nurses have witnessed both patient fear from immigration raids and hospitals struggling under resource constraints.

The union represents the intersection of these concerns as particularly problematic—a company facilitating immigration enforcement simultaneously gaining influence over healthcare delivery through automation contracts.

Pension investments become pressure point

The Chicago demonstration's focus on pension board investments reveals a strategic approach. By targeting institutional investors managing nurse retirement funds, the union creates a direct financial accountability mechanism. Pension boards face pressure to align investments with member values, particularly when those members organize public demonstrations.

The nationwide scope of last week's actions—spanning from California to Maine—demonstrates NNU's capacity for coordinated pressure campaigns across diverse markets where Palantir operates or seeks healthcare contracts.

Details of the protests and NNU's statements were first reported by People's World.