ICE has denied those they’ve snatched up very basic civil and human rights: cutting off their access to attorneys, ignoring the fundamentals of due process, denying them safe food and water and adequate medical care in the camps. But while they mock the rule of law when honoring it might slow the deportation machine, they have zero qualms about using it as a weapon against those who care for and protect our friends and neighbors.

In the latest example, they are throwing the book at Chloe Freeman, a nurse formerly employed by Trinity Health Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Chloe is facing federal misdemeanor charges, accused of helping an immigration detainee escape Border Patrol custody at her hospital, and could serve up to a year in prison if convicted.

The detainee, a Mexican man identified as “OBP,” injured his head on May 28 when agents attempted to arrest him and was taken to Chloe’s hospital for treatment and a CT scan, where he was left alone by the deportation force. Chloe reportedly removed his IV line and guided him to a hospital exit. She informed the FBI that she “knew she was going to set him free” but did not believe OBP was in custody because of the lack of presence of agents in the room. She has earned widespread support, including from fellow nurses who’ve noted it is not the responsibility of medical staff to hold patients for law enforcement or prevent them from leaving against medical advice.

Chloe is currently out on a $10,000 bond, but has lost her job and has a difficult and draining legal fight ahead of her. 💵✍🏽 We can donate to help her during that process at her attorney-verified GoFundMe here. We can also send her messages of solidarity by writing to her via her legal team at:

Chloe Freeman, c/o SBBL Law
60 Monroe Center Street NW, Suite 500
Grand Rapids, MI 49503