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Pregnant women detained at Dilley ICE facility despite federal policy prohibiting detention

Feb 20, 2026 · Dilley, TX

Federal judges have ordered the release of pregnant and nursing women held by ICE at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, citing violations of ICE Directive 11032.4, which prohibits detention of pregnant and nursing individuals. Congressman Joaquin Castro alleged that approximately eight pregnant women are currently being held at the facility and claimed they were hidden from his view during his visit. Castro reported cases of inadequate medical care, including a pregnant woman three months along experiencing heavy bleeding and a teenage boy not receiving proper medical attention for appendicitis. Over 1,000 pregnant, postpartum, and nursing individuals have been detained since Trump's second term began, with documented cases detailing severe conditions including miscarriages without proper medical care, shackling during pregnancy and labor, inadequate medical treatment, solitary confinement, forced family separations, and contaminated food.

Timeline

Feb 20, 2026Federal judges order release of pregnant and nursing women held by ICE; Russian family of asylum-seekers released from Dilley Immigration Processing Center after four months in custody following legal pressure and NBC News coverage
Feb 13, 2026Center for Reproductive Rights documents over 1,000 credible reports of rights abuses against pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women in ICE custody, including miscarriages, shackling, solitary confinement, and forced separations

Sources

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