Pregnant woman hospitalized after ICE detention in Brockton, denied adequate care
Feb 11, 2026 · Brockton, MA, Cape Verde

Djeniffer Ribeiro-Semedo, a 22-year-old from Cape Verde who immigrated lawfully at age 13, was detained by ICE agents on February 11 after leaving a state courthouse in Brockton where she was appearing on a domestic battery charge. While six months pregnant, she spent three days sleeping on concrete benches without beds at the Burlington ICE facility, where she said she received only mac and cheese for meals and inadequate medical care. She was hospitalized on February 13 after experiencing severe abdominal pain and spent nearly a week at Beth Israel Hospital, where ICE agents were stationed outside her room. Attorney Carl Hurvich stated that the stress and poor nutrition caused her health to deteriorate during detention, and noted that ICE had a 2021 policy against detaining pregnant people without compelling reason. Ribeiro-Semedo was released on her own recognizance and must appear in U.S. Immigration Court and U.S. District Court.
Sources
More incidents in Massachusetts
- ICE detains nail salon worker in Newburyport 'with guns drawn'Aug 19, 2026 · Newburyport, MA
- Universities, unions sue to block new limit on international student visa statusAug 18, 2026 · Boston, MA
- Ecuadorian father detained by ICE in Massachusetts neighborhood, family disputes arrestAug 18, 2026 · Lawrence, MA
- Zambian nurse detained at Boston airport, released after union and community protestsAug 7, 2026 · Boston, MA
- Brazilian Man Detained by ICE in Taunton, Massachusetts After Prior DeportationAug 6, 2026 · Taunton, MA
- Massachusetts governor signs strongest immigrant protections law amid ICE enforcementAug 5, 2026 · Chelsea, MA