BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Women taken into custody by U.S. immigration agents while pregnant say they received inadequate care in a letter that calls on current officials to stop detaining expectant mothers in federal facilities.
The communication to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is part of an increasing effort led by Democrats and immigrant rights groups to address the alleged mistreatment of pregnant women amidst an immigration crackdown.
The Department of Homeland Security maintains that pregnant detainees receive routine prenatal care and nutritional assistance, yet provided no data regarding the number of pregnant women currently in custody.
The ACLU's letter documents disturbing accounts from pregnant women who reported being shackled during transport, held in solitary confinement for long periods, and given insufficient food and water while at detention facilities.
The ACLU reported having spoken with multiple pregnant detainees in the past five months, some of whom suffered miscarriages. Accounts include severe medical neglect and issues with obtaining translations during critical health encounters.
One unnamed woman recounted being transported with handcuffs over her stomach, raising questions about safety and care for expectant mothers. She expressed feeling kidnapped and reported symptoms such as dizziness and nausea during her journey.
The letter has sparked renewed calls for investigations into ICE's practices, especially regarding the treatment of pregnant women, postpartum, and nursing mothers in detention. Lawmakers have also pointed out the challenge in obtaining comprehensive data about pregnant detainees.
As the conversation continues, many are pushing for policy revisions to safeguard the well-being of vulnerable populations in detention facilities.
