2-month-old baby deported to Mexico after developing severe respiratory illness in ICE detention center

A 2-month-old baby, Juan Nicolás, who developed a severe respiratory illness while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, was deported to Mexico with his mother on Tuesday.  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that the infant and his mother, identified as Mireya Stefani Lopez-Sanchez, were apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol near Eagle Pass, Texas, on January 21. 

She was transferred to ICE for removal proceedings. The pair had been held at the Dilley Detention Center in Texas, a facility that has been under intense scrutiny lately. Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas had actually met Juan Nicolás and his mother during a visit to Dilley. He raised serious concerns about the boy’s health, reporting that the infant had suffered respiratory issues during his roughly three weeks in custody. 

According to a report by Newsweek, things took a turn on Monday evening when the boy was reportedly rushed to the hospital. He was later returned to the facility before his deportation, which has really fueled criticism over the decision to remove a child while he was ill.

That was a really fast turnaround from hospital visit to deportation

Tricia McLaughlin, the outgoing Assistant Secretary for DHS, defended the decision, stating that Juan Nicolás was in “stable condition and medically cleared for removal.” She added that pediatricians provided the parents with a nasal saline spray and a nasal bulb syringe to continue care after their removal. McLaughlin also emphasized that ICE doesn’t separate families, giving parents the choice to either take their child with them or designate someone else for their care. 

McLaughlin even promoted the CBP Home app, suggesting it could help undocumented migrants avoid detention and get a free flight and $2,600 for a voluntary return. However, Representative Castro wasn’t having any of it. He took to X to express his outrage. He confirmed that Juan, his 16-month-old sister, and both parents were deported with only the money from their commissary account, totaling about $190. 

This incident has really intensified the spotlight on pediatric care and the conditions at the Dilley facility, as well as other facilities. Attorneys and advocates have consistently raised concerns, citing reports of unsanitary conditions and delayed medical treatment for other young children. The fact is that every report of a child in a centre comes with a report of them falling sick. 

The Dilley facility resumed family detention under President Trump. The recency has continuously raised questions about its readiness to handle infants and other medically vulnerable detainees. It’s a complex issue with real, human consequences that are hard to ignore.