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Pregnant woman held at Eloy for four months, learned at seven months of preeclampsia and her baby's heart condition

Apr 2026·Location: Eloy, AZ

Yesenia Mejia-Valesquez (a pseudonym used in the report) was detained at the Eloy Detention Center while pregnant and was scheduled for her first OBGYN appointment in January 2026, over a month after she was detained, but missed it and the ultrasound because ICE transported her late. She was not taken to an off-site OBGYN until March, three months into detention, and still did not get an ultrasound because of a scheduling mix-up. Her release request for lack of appropriate medical care was denied in March, and she asked for a deportation flight out of fear of being forced to give birth in ICE custody. When she finally had an ultrasound at the end of March she learned she was about seven months pregnant; in April she was told she had preeclampsia and that the baby has a heart condition that will require surgery after birth. She was released to her family at the end of April, at approximately eight months pregnant.

Timeline

Apr 2026—Diagnosed with preeclampsia; told her baby has a heart condition requiring surgery; released to family at about eight months pregnant
Mar 2026—Taken to an off-site OBGYN three months into detention; no ultrasound because of a scheduling mix-up; release request denied
Jan 2026—Misses first OBGYN appointment and ultrasound after ICE transports her late
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