Women in immigration detention are often denied adequate medical care, even when in dire need of it, are shackled around the stomach while being transported between facilities, and have been physically and psychologically mistreated, 17 sources told @BuzzFeedNews.
In interviews and written affidavits, women who've been in ICE detention and CBP custody while pregnant told of being ignored when obviously miscarrying, describing their jailers as unwilling or unable to respond to medical emergency, and recounted incidents of physical abuse.
3 medical workers and 2 legal aid workers who spoke to us all said they had seen — and some had documented — cases of pregnant women not receiving or being denied medical care in more than six different detention centers in California, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
The DHS head told Congress in May that the government provides pregnant detainees with prenatal care, separate housing, specialists who take them to appointments, and counseling.
But each of the 3 women we spoke to said they receive none or only 2 of the services.
But each of the 3 women we spoke to said they receive none or only 2 of the services.
A woman stuck in detention, who lost her baby, told us she wouldn't have sought a safer life in the US if she had known what would happen.
“My soul aches that there are many pregnant women coming who could lose their babies like I did and that they will do nothing to help them."
“My soul aches that there are many pregnant women coming who could lose their babies like I did and that they will do nothing to help them."
