Pregnant Asylum Seeker Faces Deportation Amid Medical Distress in Atlanta
A 21-year-old woman, eight months pregnant and experiencing severe medical distress, is on the verge of being deported from Atlanta to Colombia, according to human rights attorneys. The case has sparked urgent calls for emergency assistance and legal intervention to ensure her health and safety.
Urgent Plea for Medical Attention
Anthony Enriquez, vice-president of US advocacy and litigation at the Kennedy Human Rights Center, stated that his client, Zharick Daniela Buitrago Ortiz, is currently at Atlanta International Airport, scheduled for an imminent removal flight. "We are trying to get her the medical attention she needs immediately," Enriquez said, highlighting that Ortiz has reported shooting pain in her abdomen and back, along with nausea and vomiting, but has been denied medical care by authorities.
Enriquez added, "We are immediately moving to file a lawsuit just to preserve the status quo and to ensure that our client gets the medical care she needs." Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Atlanta confirmed the deportation is imminent and referred inquiries to their El Paso office, though details remain scarce.
Background of the Asylum Case
Ortiz and her mother crossed the border into Texas in November, seeking asylum. During a "credible fear" hearing, part of the official asylum application process, they testified that Ortiz's father was killed after confronting corruption publicly. While her mother was deemed to have a credible fear and allowed to file an asylum application, Ortiz was not and received an order of expedited removal.
Enriquez noted that under the Trump administration, ICE has regularly detained and deported pregnant women, despite an existing policy that they normally shouldn't be detained. "That policy, although it exists on paper still, it's not being applied," he said, suggesting this aligns with a broader trend to expedite such deportations.
Broader Implications and Legal Complications
The case raises significant questions about the quality of medical care for pregnant detainees in US immigration custody. Civil rights leaders have reported instances of bleeding, miscarriages, shackling, and other forms of medical neglect among pregnant women under detention.
Additionally, the issue of birthright citizenship complicates deportation processes. A child born on US soil is automatically a US citizen by law, though the Trump administration is attempting to change this right, with the matter currently before the US Supreme Court. This legal backdrop adds layers of complexity to cases like Ortiz's, where deportation could have profound implications for her unborn child's status.
As the situation unfolds, advocates continue to push for transparency and humane treatment, emphasizing the need for adherence to policies that protect vulnerable individuals in the immigration system.
