Trump administration detains pregnant migrants despite prohibition

Pregnant migrants detained

Abuse reported in detention

Lack of medical care

The administration of President Donald Trump is detaining pregnant migrants despite guidelines that prohibit it.

Organizations report mistreatment and lack of basic medical care, according to EFE.

Why it matters: The allegations point to possible violations of internal rules and human rights in immigration detention centers.

Authorities are also sending pregnant minors to shelters in Texas.

Pregnant migrants face detention despite rules

Pregnant migrants suffer inhumane conditions in U.S. detention centers. https://t.co/UZmf4hEX0s

— Notigram (@Notigram) April 2, 2026

In that state, abortion is prohibited in most cases.

According to activists, several of these minors became pregnant after sexual abuse.

The cases have raised alarms among advocacy organizations.

The accusations come amid record detention figures.

In February, nearly 70,000 migrants were being held, according to TRAC at Syracuse University.

Lack of medical care in detention centers

Abuse reported

The government of Donald Trump is allegedly detaining pregnant migrants and denying them basic medical care, according to organizations. https://t.co/9RVexIa7bg

— El Universal (@El_Universal_Mx) April 2, 2026

Jesús González, from the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, reported conditions in Arizona.

He stated that pregnant migrants are not receiving adequate medical care after their detention.

The center identified is Eloy, near Tucson. There, detainees do not receive necessary care during pregnancy.

González described the case of Esther. She is a migrant from Central Africa.

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She became pregnant after a rape during a kidnapping in Mexico. She was waiting for an appointment to seek asylum in the United States.

Upon entering U.S. territory, she was detained. During that time, despite being pregnant, the migrant did not receive adequate medical care.

According to testimony, she only received prenatal vitamins. No other care was provided during her pregnancy.

Lupe Rodríguez also reported another case. She leads the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice.

She explained that a migrant with a high-risk pregnancy received no care for four months. She was also forced to sleep on the floor and go hungry.

ICE guidelines are clear. Pregnant migrants should not be detained, except in exceptional circumstances.

However, the data shows a different reality. Between January 2025 and February, 498 pregnant or postpartum individuals were detained.

Pregnant minors and abortion restrictions

Organizations also reported that pregnant minors were transferred. The Texas Newsroom reported the case.

Authorities sent more than a dozen to a shelter in southern Texas. There, laws prohibit abortion.

The outlet indicated that half of the minors became pregnant due to sexual abuse. This has raised concern among activists.

Yvonne Rodríguez, from Reproductive Freedom For All, supported the complaint. She pointed to serious implications for reproductive rights.

Brigitte Amiri, an ACLU attorney, explained the policy change. She said that previously, shelters were sought in places where abortion was legal.

That approach responded to a prior court order. Now, the practice has changed.

Amiri criticized the current situation. She stated that young pregnant migrants must be treated with respect.

She also said their medical care should not be politicized.

The allegations continue to grow.