A heartbreaking incident recently took place when a 10-year-old U.S. citizen, who was undergoing treatment for brain cancer, was deported to Mexico along with her family. This happened after they were stopped at an immigration checkpoint in Texas.
The young girl and her four American-born siblings were removed from Texas on February 4 after their undocumented parents were detained and deported. The family was traveling from their home in Rio Grande to Houston for an emergency medical checkup when they were stopped. They had taken this same route multiple times before, always showing letters from doctors and lawyers to explain their situation. However, this time, those letters were not enough.
The mother explained that despite pleading with immigration officers about her daughter’s critical condition, they refused to listen. The parents had no criminal history, yet they were arrested and taken to a detention center. The mother and daughters were separated from the father and sons, and soon, the family realized they would not be able to take their daughter to her doctor.
The mother described the experience as terrifying and overwhelming. She recalled her sick daughter lying on a cold floor under bright lights, struggling through the ordeal. After several hours, the entire family was loaded into a van and dropped off in Mexico at the Texas border. With nowhere to go, they sought shelter in a nearby facility for a week before finding a house to stay in. However, their struggles were far from over.
In addition to their daughter’s brain cancer, the family’s 15-year-old son suffers from Long QT syndrome, a dangerous heart condition that can be life-threatening if left untreated. Since their deportation, neither child has received the necessary medical care. The mother fears for their health and safety, and the children have not been able to attend school since their removal from the U.S.
Both parents had lived in the U.S. since 2013, hoping to provide a better life for their family. The mother shared that doctors once told her that her daughter had little chance of survival, but she considers her a miracle. Before being deported, the girl was going to routine checkups with specialists to monitor her recovery. Now, with no access to proper medical care, the family worries about her health.
Rochelle Garza, president of the Texas Civil Rights Project, called this case an absolute tragedy. She explained that this is not an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern affecting mixed-status families under strict immigration policies. However, this is the only case of its kind that the organization is currently handling.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency responsible for detaining and deporting the family, declined to comment on the case, citing privacy reasons.
This situation highlights the devastating impact of immigration policies on families, especially when medical emergencies are involved. The family now faces an uncertain future, hoping for a way to get their children the care they desperately need.
