US Deports Sick Baby, Sparking Outrage

Lawmaker claims 2-month-old with bronchitis was deported along with family, while authorities say child was medically cleared

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A U.S. Representative from Texas claims that immigration authorities deported a 2-month-old baby with bronchitis to Mexico along with his family, despite the child being unresponsive in the hours before. However, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson says the child was in stable condition, medically cleared for removal, and that the parents chose to take the child with them when deported.

Why it matters

The detention and deportation of children by U.S. immigration authorities has come under increased scrutiny, with concerns raised about conditions in detention facilities and the treatment of minors. This case highlights the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and the rights of families and children.

The details

According to the report, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro claims that immigration authorities deported a 2-month-old baby with bronchitis, along with the child's 16-month-old sister, mother, and father. Castro says the child was unresponsive in the hours before deportation. However, a DHS spokesperson states the child was in stable condition, medically cleared, and that the parents chose to take the child with them when deported after a judge issued a final order of removal.

  • On January 21, Border Patrol apprehended the child's mother, Mireya Stefani Lopez-Sanchez, crossing the border illegally near Eagle Pass, Texas.
  • On February 8, a judge issued Lopez-Sanchez a final order of removal.
  • On February 18, Lopez-Sanchez and her children were removed from the U.S.

The players

Joaquin Castro

A U.S. Representative from Texas who claims the 2-month-old baby was deported while sick.

Mireya Stefani Lopez-Sanchez

The mother of the 2-month-old baby who was deported along with her children.

Tricia McLaughlin

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security who states the child was medically cleared for removal.

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What they’re saying

“To unnecessarily deport a sick baby and his entire family is heinous.”

— Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative (X)

“The child was in stable condition and medically cleared for removal, and pediatricians gave the parents a nasal saline spray with a nasal bulb syringe to continue care.”

— Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Spokesperson (ksgf.com)

What’s next

The case is likely to continue generating debate and scrutiny over the treatment of immigrant families and children by U.S. immigration authorities.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and controversies surrounding the detention and deportation of immigrant families and children, with concerns over medical care and due process continuing to be raised.