BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Women taken into custody by U.S. immigration agents while pregnant report inadequate care and harsh treatment in federal detention facilities. A letter sent to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Wednesday highlights the growing concerns over the treatment of these vulnerable detainees and calls for an end to their detention.
The correspondence, sent by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), reflects a broader movement among Democrats and immigrant rights groups advocating for the rights of pregnant women caught in the ongoing immigration crackdown. The letter presents accounts from women who describe being shackled during transport, placed in solitary confinement, and experiencing severe neglect regarding their nutritional needs and medical care.
More than a dozen pregnant women have shared their experiences, including some who suffered miscarriages while in detention. They reported extreme distress due to insufficient medical care, a lack of translation services during medical encounters, and one case of severe infection following a miscarriage.
In an interview with The Associated Press, one woman described the harrowing ordeal of being kept in handcuffs during a five-hour journey that included two flights. She expressed feelings of being treated like a criminal and mentioned that the conditions exacerbated her health issues, including dizziness and vaginal bleeding. While detained, she also struggled to obtain basic necessities such as food and water, describing the meals provided as inadequate.
The ACLU's letter urges for an investigation into the treatment of pregnant detainees and emphasizes the need for policy changes within ICE. In response to growing concerns, Senate Democrats recently wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, questioning the frequency and handling of pregnant women in custody, urging an end to such detentions unless under exceptional circumstances.
Despite these concerns, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains that pregnant detainees receive necessary prenatal care and mental health services, asserting that the detention of expectant mothers is rare and subject to stringent oversight.
The situation continues to unfold as lawmakers demand greater transparency regarding the number and treatment of pregnant individuals in ICE facilities, highlighting the urgent need for improvements in care for this vulnerable population.
