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Salvadoran mother detained while pregnant for 3.5 months despite ICE policy, witnesses miscarriages

September 2025·Location: San Fernando, CA

Country of origin: El Salvador

Salvadoran mother detained while pregnant for 3.5 months despite ICE policy, witnesses miscarriages
Photo via twincities.com

Lorena Pineda, a 27-year-old Salvadoran mother of two, was arrested by ICE agents on June 19, 2025, while five months pregnant at a food stand in California. Despite ICE policy prohibiting detention of pregnant women for administrative violations, an agent told her he would not release her. She was transferred through multiple detention facilities—Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Atlanta, Alexandria, and finally South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana—where she was held for over 3.5 months separated from her young children by 1,500 miles. At the facility, she was housed with at least 20 other pregnant women and witnessed multiple miscarriages, including a woman carrying twins. She received inadequate prenatal care, poor nutrition, and was unable to contact her family for the first month. After three months, she signed papers for voluntary self-deportation to El Salvador with a departure date extended to March due to her full-term pregnancy.

Timeline

September 2025—Signed papers for voluntary self-deportation to El Salvador with departure date extended to March due to full-term pregnancy
Jun 19, 2025—Lorena Pineda arrested by ICE agents while five months pregnant at food stand in California; agent refused to release her despite pregnancy
Jun 19, 2025—Transferred through multiple detention facilities including Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Atlanta, and Alexandria
Jun 19, 2025—Held at South Louisiana ICE Processing Center for over 3.5 months; housed with at least 20 pregnant women; received inadequate prenatal care and nutrition; separated from two young children; unable to contact family for first month; witnessed multiple miscarriages including twin miscarriage
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