A Pregnant Woman's Desperate Fight for Medical Attention Ends in Deportation
A 21-year-old Colombian woman eight months pregnant and struggling with medical distress has been deported from the United States, despite a court order to keep her out of the air. The deportation was issued just hours after a federal judge intervened on behalf of Zharick Daniela Buitrago Ortiz.
According to Anthony Enriquez, an attorney representing Ortiz's interests, the 6pm temporary restraining order issued by US District Court Judge Sarah Geraghty came too late as Ortiz had already been boarded onto a plane at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport. As a result, Ortiz was transported back to Colombia, where she is now facing dire medical needs.
Enriquez expressed outrage over the circumstances surrounding Ortiz's deportation, particularly in light of her advanced pregnancy and reported symptoms of shooting pain, nausea, and vomiting. He questioned the decision-making process at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), given that pregnant women typically should not be detained by the agency.
"There are serious concerns about what kind of company would allow someone at this late stage of pregnancy and distress to fly," Enriquez said in an interview. The attorney also pointed out that ICE's failure to provide Ortiz with adequate medical care is a concerning trend, echoing allegations of medical neglect faced by other pregnant detainees since the Trump administration took office.
It is worth noting that Ortiz had initially crossed into the US in November seeking asylum, citing fears for her life after her father was killed over corruption. Her mother had been granted permission to file an asylum application, but Ortiz herself was deemed ineligible due to not having undergone a credible fear interview.
The deportation raises questions about the US government's handling of pregnant women, particularly those who have entered the country as asylum seekers. With one in five undocumented pregnancies resulting in birthright citizenship claims, the debate over this issue has reached the Supreme Court. In light of such complexities, critics are pointing to the need for more robust policies and procedures protecting the health and well-being of vulnerable populations within the US immigration system.
A 21-year-old Colombian woman eight months pregnant and struggling with medical distress has been deported from the United States, despite a court order to keep her out of the air. The deportation was issued just hours after a federal judge intervened on behalf of Zharick Daniela Buitrago Ortiz.
According to Anthony Enriquez, an attorney representing Ortiz's interests, the 6pm temporary restraining order issued by US District Court Judge Sarah Geraghty came too late as Ortiz had already been boarded onto a plane at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport. As a result, Ortiz was transported back to Colombia, where she is now facing dire medical needs.
Enriquez expressed outrage over the circumstances surrounding Ortiz's deportation, particularly in light of her advanced pregnancy and reported symptoms of shooting pain, nausea, and vomiting. He questioned the decision-making process at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), given that pregnant women typically should not be detained by the agency.
"There are serious concerns about what kind of company would allow someone at this late stage of pregnancy and distress to fly," Enriquez said in an interview. The attorney also pointed out that ICE's failure to provide Ortiz with adequate medical care is a concerning trend, echoing allegations of medical neglect faced by other pregnant detainees since the Trump administration took office.
It is worth noting that Ortiz had initially crossed into the US in November seeking asylum, citing fears for her life after her father was killed over corruption. Her mother had been granted permission to file an asylum application, but Ortiz herself was deemed ineligible due to not having undergone a credible fear interview.
The deportation raises questions about the US government's handling of pregnant women, particularly those who have entered the country as asylum seekers. With one in five undocumented pregnancies resulting in birthright citizenship claims, the debate over this issue has reached the Supreme Court. In light of such complexities, critics are pointing to the need for more robust policies and procedures protecting the health and well-being of vulnerable populations within the US immigration system.
... I mean, who lets someone fly with a late-stage pregnancy? 
It's like they're trying to get a free airfare upgrade 
️ but instead they just deported her back to Colombia and now she's in serious trouble. 
This whole thing has me shook. And what's up with ICE not providing medical care? That's just cold-blooded 
... I mean, I'm no immigration expert, but it seems like they should know that pregnant women shouldn't be detained 
like what kind of medical care does ice even provide anyway? it sounds super basic and not at all equipped to handle someone who's 8 months pregnant and having major health issues. and deporting her now is just cruel... i mean i get that the laws are in place and all but can't we find a way to work around these situations? like, maybe she could've been released on bail or something? 
anyway this whole thing is just giving me the feels 
... like what's going on here?! 8 months pregnant and they deport her back to Colombia? That's not fair at all 
... she was in a situation where she needed medical help and they just kinda throw her out 
She was 8 months pregnant and had serious medical issues, but still got deported back to Colombia 
! What if she died on that plane or in the airport? 
The fact that ICE didn't care about her medical needs is just crazy 
. I mean, pregnant women shouldn't be detained by ICE, it's not right 
. The system is failing people like Ortiz and it's so sad 
.
. I mean, come on, ICE has a duty to provide basic human care, not just slap some paperwork together and kick someone out the door 
. It's not just about citizenship or deportation; it's about basic human rights 
.
ICE needs to seriously re-think their priorities – what's more important, deporting someone or keeping them alive? 
We need better policies in place to protect people like Zharick and her unborn child! 
This is just ridiculous, especially considering the whole 'credible fear' thing wasn't even done for her... what kind of system is this?! 
. It's like, what kind of company doesn't know when to put a hold on someone who's not feeling right? 
The fact that she was already boarded onto a plane and transported back to Colombia is just insane 
. It's not too much to ask, is it? 
On the other hand, I kinda understand why there's a need for stricter immigration policies... But at what cost?! 
I mean, if we're gonna prioritize deportation over human life (not literally), then maybe we should be rethinking our approach. 
And another thing, how could they not provide medical care to her during the flight? That's just basic human decency... I guess that's why they call it a "concerning trend" 
.
Shouldn't pregnant women be a priority when it comes to medical attention? It's not like they can just "fly away" their health issues 
. I mean, I know the guy representing her is upset, but come on, the system is clearly broken here 
