National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Reproductive Freedom for All, Convene to Highlight Reproductive Health Violations and Mistreatment of Pregnant, Postpartum and Nursing Individuals in ICE Detention

National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Reproductive Freedom for All, Convene to Highlight Reproductive Health Violations and Mistreatment of Pregnant, Postpartum and Nursing Individuals in ICE Detention

National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Reproductive Freedom For All, and other partners hosted a press call on Thursday morning to highlight immigration detention as an urgent and immediate reproductive justice issue. You can access a recording from today’s call here.

Reproductive freedom and justice advocates called for oversight and accountability for the human rights violations and the medical neglect and mistreatment of pregnant, postpartum, and/or nursing people in detention across the country. Overwhelmingly, speakers agreed that the Trump administration is choosing to enforce its extreme agenda rather than the safety of pregnant people.

Experts convened to speak on the crisis at hand, share the consequences for pregnant individuals and their children in detention, bring to light real-life examples, and discuss future actions from organizations, including legal actions to hold this administration accountable.

Members of Congress and advocates highlighted important legislation calling for more oversight and accountability on ICE, including a resolution recognizing that immigrant justice and reproductive justice are inseparable and must be pursued together, the Melt Ice Act, and the Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act.

SPEAKERS INCLUDED: 

• Rep. Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03)
• Yvonne Gutierrez, Executive Director, Reproductive Freedom for All
• Lupe M. Rodríguez, Executive Director, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice
• Rochelle Garza, President, Texas Civil Rights Project
• Jesus Gonzalez, Managing Social Worker, Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project (Arizona)
• Brigitte Amiri, Deputy Director, American Civil Liberties Union, Reproductive Freedom Project

QUOTES FROM SPEAKERS:

“The story of my mom– a woman who crossed the border pregnant with me– reminds me that migration and reproductive healthcare are inextricably tied. Despite people traveling miles in the hope of a better life, immigration status, financial conditions, and dehumanizing treatment create significant barriers to care,” said Congresswoman Delia C Ramirez, lead sponsor of the Melt ICE Act. “Reproductive justice is a human right and immigrant justice demands the dismantling of systems that criminalize migration, tear apart families, and deny immigrants access to health care and full personhood.”

• Rep. Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03)

“For months now, we’ve seen reports of pregnant people in ICE custody experiencing medical neglect and abuse. This is state-sanctioned violence. Trump’s anti-abortion and anti-immigrant attacks are part of the same agenda, aimed at controlling people’s bodies, denying care, and targeting communities they deem less deserving of freedom and dignity. This is dangerous, and it’s escalating. We will keep fighting for a world where everyone has the freedom to make decisions about their bodies and their futures, and where families are protected by their government, not targeted.”

• Yvonne Gutierrez, Reproductive Freedom for All Executive Director 

“We’ve had enough of these attacks on immigrant communities, designed to instill fear and confusion and deter people from accessing healthcare and essential services.  We know that actions to separate families and make it harder for people to make their own decisions about their bodies and lives violate our reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. Immigrant justice IS reproductive justice. Everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from, should be able to get the health care they need; live safe, healthy lives; and raise their families with dignity.”

• Lupe M. Rodríguez, Executive Director, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice 

“Unaccompanied immigrant youth must be able to access the full range of reproductive health care, including abortion, under the current law. Any attempts to restrict abortion access for youth in immigration shelters will be devastating. If any youth in ORR custody is denied access to reproductive health care, they should contact us at 212-549-2633.”

• Brigitte Amiri, Deputy Director, American Civil Liberties Union, Reproductive Freedom Project

“Our pregnant clients tell us they don’t know when or if they will be able to go to the OBGYN, and when they do go, they aren’t told when their next appointment will be. We currently have a client who is in her third trimester and has no information on what the plan would be if she were to give birth while detained. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to secure release from detention for anyone right now, including people who are pregnant or suffering from serious illnesses.  While our clients have reported poor conditions in detention for many years, what we’re seeing now is a choice on behalf of ICE and the federal government to detain everyone that they can, regardless of their medical history and regardless of whether they can obtain the medical care they need in ICE custody. We are sounding the alarm on the real harms of detaining pregnant people and the danger that this poses to their health and the health of their babies. We call on ICE to immediately release all pregnant people from detention and stop this harmful practice of detaining pregnant people.”

• Jesus Gonzalez, Managing Social Worker, Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, Arizona

“Healthcare access is not a nice-to-have, it’s lifesaving. And reproductive health care should never be seen as optional —  it’s a dignity that all women deserve. Texans know this fight deeply. Those of us living on the border have experienced this cruelty for years. And it’s no coincidence that many of these immigration detention centers, whether they are run by ICE or ORR, are located in Texas. Or that the enforcement methods here have spread across the country. It’s past time to shut down these facilities and end detention of families and any medically vulnerable individuals.”

– Rochelle Garza, President of the Texas Civil Rights Project