Pregnant Women in U.S. Immigration Custody Demand Better Treatment

Wed Oct 22 2025 23:37:49 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A letter from detained pregnant women highlights inadequate care in immigration facilities, calling for an end to their detention.

In a recent letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, pregnant women in U.S. detention assert inadequate medical care, calling for the cessation of holding expectant mothers in these facilities. The ACLU has reported alarming accounts of mistreatment, including medical neglect and insufficient dietary provisions, alongside a call for better oversight and the need to protect such vulnerable populations.

Women taken into custody by U.S. immigration agents while pregnant have raised serious concerns regarding the quality of care they received, thus urging the Biden administration to cease detaining expectant mothers in federal facilities. This outreach is part of an increasing movement by immigrant rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers highlighting the alleged neglect faced by pregnant detainees under these harsh immigration policies.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) insists that pregnant residents receive ongoing prenatal visits and adequate nutritional support. However, reports suggest that the actual conditions within detention centers betray these claims, as many detainees reported being subjected to shackling during transport, denial of essential medical services, and provision of insufficient food and water.

The letter from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) revealed personal accounts from several pregnant women detailing distressing experiences, including one woman who endured a miscarriage while in custody, and another who developed a severe infection following her mishap. The ACLU indicated that more than a dozen pregnant women have shared stories of inadequate medical translation services, solitary confinement, and overall neglect.

In a harrowing interview with The Associated Press, one woman recounted being transported while handcuffed for five hours, across two plane journeys, explaining the fear and discomfort she faced. She expressed disbelief at being considered a flight risk while pregnant, emphasizing the need for humane treatment during such vulnerable times.

Concerns have grown among lawmakers regarding how often pregnant or recently postpartum women are detained, noting that transparency around the number of cases remains limited. In response, Senate Democrats have requested urgent reforms, calling for a halt to detaining such individuals unless under special circumstances.

The DHS has claimed that pregnant detainees receive careful monitoring of their health, yet ongoing reports reveal a pressing need for reform in treatment and conditions in immigration facilities.