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Pregnant Venezuelan asylum seeker detained at ICE check-in, miscarries in custody, shackled to hospital bed

May 12, 2026 · TX, Venezuela

Pregnant Venezuelan asylum seeker detained at ICE check-in, miscarries in custody, shackled to hospital bed

Darisbell Paola Quintero Morillo, a Venezuelan asylum seeker with a pending case, was detained by ICE on April 23, 2026, while attending a scheduled check-in appointment at the Dallas ICE Field Office despite her compliance with immigration requirements. She had entered the U.S. in April 2021 with her husband Gilbert Vicent, both fleeing political persecution in Venezuela. She was transferred to Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, where she discovered she was pregnant during medical evaluation. While in custody, she reported inadequate nutrition, poor food quality, and insufficient medical care, and requested medical attention multiple times due to pregnancy complications. Her attorney filed a federal court petition and emergency motion seeking her release on parole, citing her compliance history and lack of criminal record, but the judge denied the emergency motion. She subsequently miscarried while detained. After learning of the miscarriage from her doctor at the hospital, ICE officers cuffed her ankles to the hospital bed.

Timeline

Apr 23, 2026Darisbell Quintero detained by ICE at Dallas ICE Field Office during scheduled check-in appointment despite compliance with immigration requirements
Apr 23, 2026Transferred to Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado
Apr 23, 2026Discovered she was pregnant during medical evaluation; reported inadequate nutrition, poor food quality, and insufficient medical care while in custody
May 9, 2026Attorney filed federal court petition and emergency motion seeking release on parole; judge denied emergency motion
May 9, 2026Miscarried while detained at Prairieland Detention Center
May 9, 2026At hospital after miscarriage, ICE officers cuffed her ankles to hospital bed

Sources

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