The stench of breakfast wafting through the air was enough to turn Daniela’s stomach, a cruel reminder of her harsh reality. Trapped in the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, she had been surviving on little more than stale bread and whatever meager items she could scavenge from the commissary. Pregnant and isolated, Daniela felt the dual pangs of hunger and despair gnawing at her.
“This is not a place for me,” she wrote in a heartfelt message, her words echoing the sentiments of many who find themselves in similar predicaments. Daniela, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, had been experiencing abdominal pain and had contracted Covid-19 in early September. Despite her condition, she had not received a single prenatal visit from an OB-GYN during her two-month detention, a glaring violation of the standards set for the treatment of pregnant detainees.
Official guidelines established in 2021 explicitly state that pregnant, postpartum, and lactating women should not be detained unless absolutely necessary. Yet, as immigration experts and advocates have noted, the current administration appears to be disregarding these directives. Reports indicate a troubling increase in the number of pregnant women in detention, with many experiencing deteriorating conditions and inadequate medical care.
“This is the first time I’ve seen so many pregnant people in [ICE] detention,” remarked Tania Wolf, an advocacy manager at the National Immigration Project. This observation is echoed by experts from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Women’s Refugee Commission, who have documented similar trends. The alarming reality is that many women who meet the criteria for release are still being detained, often in facilities that fail to meet their basic needs.
The lack of transparency surrounding the number of pregnant women in detention is concerning. The Trump administration has ceased publishing crucial reports on the conditions of pregnant detainees, leaving the public largely in the dark. “Right now, we don’t have functional transparency and oversight mechanisms for DHS and for immigration detention,” stated Nithya Nathan-Pineau, a policy attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.
Daniela’s experience is not unique. Many pregnant detainees report being denied adequate medical care, facing unsanitary living conditions, and receiving insufficient meals. A Senate Judiciary Committee report revealed harrowing accounts of pregnant women being mistreated, with one woman left to miscarry alone in a hospital room without assistance. Such accounts highlight the urgent need for reform within the immigration detention system.
Despite the claims of GEO Group, the private company operating the Northwest Detention Center, that they provide “high-quality services,” the reality is starkly different. Advocates argue that the medical care provided is grossly inadequate, with many detainees waiting weeks to see a doctor. Amanda Diaz, organizing director at Freedom for Immigrants, emphasized that access to medical care is virtually nonexistent, particularly for those requiring specialized treatment.
The situation is exacerbated by the poor quality of food provided in detention facilities. Reports indicate that meals are often expired or moldy, with detainees receiving insufficient nutrition. “Food is usually expired or moldy or has maggots in them,” Diaz noted, underscoring the dire conditions faced by those in custody. Many detainees resort to purchasing food from the commissary, where prices are exorbitant, creating a cycle of exploitation.
The current administration’s policies have intensified these issues, with a significant increase in immigration enforcement leading to a rise in the number of pregnant women detained. Experts predict that recent funding increases for immigration detention facilities will only worsen the situation, creating a system that prioritizes profit over the well-being of vulnerable populations.
As Daniela’s story illustrates, the treatment of pregnant women in immigration detention is not merely a bureaucratic oversight; it is a human rights issue that demands immediate attention. The lack of accountability and oversight has allowed these practices to persist, leaving many women like Daniela to navigate a system that seems indifferent to their suffering.
Ultimately, the plight of pregnant detainees is a reflection of broader systemic failures within the immigration system. Advocates call for urgent reforms to ensure that the rights and health of these women are prioritized, emphasizing that no one should endure such conditions, especially during pregnancy. As Daniela was finally released and reunited with her daughter, her story serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for change in the treatment of immigrants in detention.
