Reassure Immigrant Families, Renounce Hate Crimes, Threats

National Nurses United today called on President-Elect Donald Trump to follow up on his calls for national unity by reassuring immigrant families that they do not have to fear deportation, and renouncing some who have used the election outcome as a pretext to threaten minorities or promote hate crimes.

In his victory speech early Wednesday, Trump pledged to “be president for all Americans” and said it was “time for us to come together as one united people.”

However, in the hours since the election was called, “millions of Americans, especially immigrant families and other people of color have had reasons for fear that they will face deportation or other attacks on their safety and their rights,” said Jean Ross, RN, NNU co-president.

“Nurses know that public health begins with personal safety, that is endangered by threats to your family or exposure to hate crimes. It is incumbent on all of us to speak out today,” said Ross.

“You can not be ‘president for all Americans’ if millions of people, especially children, are terrified that they will be deported, or that their families will be torn apart. We urge President-elect Trump to immediately provide reassurance that people must not be living in fear.”

Additionally, there have been reports across the U.S. of people, emboldened by the election outcome, have confronted some African Americans, Muslims and Latinos with hate speech or used the election to engage in other racist responses, such as the painting of swastikas and other expressions of hate. Some women and members of the LGBT community have also been subject to stepped up harassment.

“We urge President-elect Trump and all Americans to condemn such behavior,” said Ross. “Coming together as one united people means everyone should feel safe and secure in their homes and their communities. We must promote healing and diversity, not division and hate,” said Ross.