U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth is demanding Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins abandon his plan to use 12 parking spots at Edward Hines, JR. VA Hospital as a “staging area” for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Duckworth’s letter to Collins asks for “swift, decisive action to remove ICE from VA property and facilities.” The use of the parking lot prompted a protest at the west suburban hospital on Monday.

“It is preposterous that VA would believe allowing ICE to operate on the Hines campus will not adversely impact delivery of care for Hines’ patients,” Duckworth wrote. The senator said she is a Hines patient — and has experienced the limitations of the parking lot, which has long lacked the capacity to handle the daily volume of patients, family members and

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