Burnsville Woman Detained by ICE Before Surgery Denied Proper Care

Congresswoman demands release of Andrea Pedro-Francisco to receive treatment for ovarian cyst

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:35pm

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A serene, cinematic painting of an empty hospital bed in a dimly lit room, the bed bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of melancholy and the absence of proper medical care.The empty hospital bed awaits a patient who remains detained and denied the critical medical treatment they desperately need.Burnsville Today

A 23-year-old Burnsville, Minnesota woman named Andrea Pedro-Francisco, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) just days before a scheduled surgery to remove an ovarian cyst, is now living in severe pain and has not received proper medical care while in ICE custody, according to her lawyer.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the medical treatment and care provided to immigrants detained by ICE, with Congresswoman Angie Craig stating that her office is tracking 20 similar cases of improper care for detainees with serious medical conditions.

The details

Pedro-Francisco was arrested by ICE in early February, just days before she was scheduled to have the ovarian cyst - which is the size of a tennis ball - surgically removed. Instead of receiving the necessary treatment, she was taken to an ICE detention facility in El Paso, Texas, where her lawyer says she still has not received proper care for her condition.

  • Pedro-Francisco was arrested by ICE in early February 2026.
  • She was scheduled to have surgery to remove the ovarian cyst prior to her arrest.

The players

Andrea Pedro-Francisco

A 23-year-old woman from Burnsville, Minnesota who was detained by ICE just days before a scheduled surgery to remove an ovarian cyst.

Angie Craig

A U.S. Congresswoman who is demanding the release of Pedro-Francisco so she can receive the necessary medical treatment, and who says her office is tracking 20 similar cases of improper care for ICE detainees with serious conditions.

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What they’re saying

“These are individual lives at risk. People who serve our communities. People who are friends of people who have been here as minors and if we look away as a community then what does that say about who we are? I know Minnesota is not going to look away.”

— Angie Craig, U.S. Congresswoman

What’s next

Congresswoman Craig says her team is continuing to track the medical cases of ICE detainees and advocate for their proper care and release when necessary. The Department of Homeland Security has not yet responded to requests for comment on Pedro-Francisco's case.

The takeaway

This case underscores the ongoing concerns about the medical treatment and care provided to immigrants detained by ICE, with serious medical conditions sometimes going unaddressed and detainees suffering as a result. It highlights the need for greater oversight and accountability within the immigration detention system.