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Pregnant Woman Deported from ICE Facility in Dilley
Juana, who was 36 weeks pregnant, was deported to Guatemala despite medical experts deeming her unfit to fly.
Feb. 23, 2026 at 9:54pm
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported a 36-week pregnant woman named Juana from the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley over the weekend. Juana had been detained at the facility for three months with her two young children. Medical experts had deemed Juana medically unsafe to fly due to her advanced stage of pregnancy, but ICE reportedly "shopped around" to find a doctor and airline willing to assist in her deportation.
Why it matters
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of pregnant women and their unborn children in ICE detention facilities, where there have been reports of inadequate medical care and unsanitary conditions. The deportation of Juana, who was so close to her due date, has raised questions about the prioritization of immigration enforcement over the health and wellbeing of vulnerable detainees.
The details
Juana, whose last name has been withheld for privacy, was 36 weeks pregnant when she was deported to Guatemala from the ICE detention center in Dilley, Texas. She had been detained at the facility for three months with her two young children, ages 2 and 8. Medical experts had determined that Juana was too close to her due date to travel safely, but ICE reportedly found a doctor and airline willing to assist in her deportation despite these concerns.
- Juana had been detained at the Dilley facility for 3 months prior to her deportation.
- Juana was 36 weeks pregnant at the time of her deportation.
The players
Juana
A 36-week pregnant woman who was deported from the ICE detention center in Dilley, Texas to Guatemala.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
The federal agency that oversaw Juana's detention and deportation despite medical experts deeming her unfit to travel due to her advanced stage of pregnancy.
Joaquin Castro
A U.S. Congressman whose district includes San Antonio, who confirmed Juana's deportation and expressed grave concerns about ICE's treatment of pregnant detainees.
What they’re saying
“When ICE first attempted to deport her, doctors and airlines REFUSED to clear her for travel because she was too close to her due date. But ICE shopped around for a doctor and airline that would be complicit in this cruelty.”
— Joaquin Castro, U.S. Congressman
“She's worried that she's going to deliver her baby surrounded by guards and ICE agents.”
— Lidia Terrazas, Univision Reporter
What’s next
Congressman Castro said he is gravely concerned about ICE's treatment of pregnant detainees and plans to further investigate the conditions and medical care at the Dilley facility.
The takeaway
This incident underscores the ongoing controversy surrounding ICE's detention of pregnant women and the prioritization of immigration enforcement over the health and wellbeing of vulnerable detainees. It raises serious questions about the agency's practices and the need for greater oversight and accountability when it comes to the care of pregnant individuals in custody.
