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Undocumented 10-Year-Old With Cerebral Palsy Detained By ICE

U.S. Border Patrol

An effort is being made by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Workers Defense Action Fund and a San Antonio Congressman to get a 10-year-old undocumented immigrant with Cerebral Palsy released back to her family.

Rosa Maria Hernandez was being transported from Laredo to a Corpus Christi hospital for gall bladder surgery this week. They were stopped at a border patrol check point, East of Laredo. From there, agents escorted her to the hospital and waited for her release before taking her to an Office of Refugee Resettlement shelter in San Antonio.

“It’s stunning that federal agents would be waiting outside the hospital room of a 10-year-old girl with Cerebral Palsy,” said Congressman Joaquin Castro. “DHS claims to be prioritizing its apprehensions, but Rosa Maria is not a threat to anyone’s safety. ICE has the discretion to release Rosa Maria anytime and they’re choosing not to do so. We ask that she be released to her family.”

It could be weeks before that happens.

A written response from Customs and Border Patrol states “The Laredo Sector Border Patrol is committed to enforcing the immigration laws of this nation.” And “once medically cleared she will be processed accordingly.”