Topic overview
In brief
- Laura Rojas Ortiz, a 21-year-old pregnant woman, has been detained at the Dilley facility for over a month.
- She was applying for a U visa after a traumatic incident involving gun violence in her neighborhood.
- Her family is concerned about her lack of medical care during her detention, highlighting issues in immigration enforcement.
Summary
In the United States, a 21-year-old pregnant woman named Laura Rojas Ortiz has been held at the family immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas, for more than 40 days. She was detained during a routine check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while applying for a U visa, which is designated for victims or witnesses of crimes. Rojas Ortiz had previously turned herself in at the southern border over a year ago with her infant son and partner, seeking asylum after a traumatic incident in her neighborhood where a bullet grazed her son.
Rojas Ortiz's family has expressed deep concern for her well-being, particularly given her high-risk pregnancy. They claim that she has not received any medical attention at the facility, including an ultrasound or specialist care, despite her condition. Her mother, Paola, reported that when lawmakers visited the facility, ICE staff moved Rojas Ortiz to a medical room, only to release her once the politicians left, suggesting a lack of transparency regarding the treatment of detainees.