Detention’s Deadly Silence: The Unseen Toll on Pregnant Women

The revelation that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lost count of miscarriages among detained pregnant women is a stark reminder of the cruel consequences of immigration policy. Behind the statistics and bureaucratic excuses lies a disturbing pattern of neglect, where vulnerable women are denied access to basic medical care, exacerbating an already dire situation.

Anabell’s experience is particularly chilling – she was only informed of her pregnancy after being taken into custody, and her subsequent medical care was woefully inadequate. Laura and Angie also suffered similar fates: their pregnancies were marked by chaos and uncertainty. These stories are a testament to the human cost of this policy.

The medical community has long sounded the alarm about the risks of detaining pregnant women. In July, Christina Davidson, chief medical officer of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, warned that “placing and holding pregnant patients in detention poses serious medical and mental health risks for both the pregnant patient and fetus.” Lapses in care can escalate treatable conditions into life-threatening emergencies.

ICE’s inability to track miscarriages after October 2025 raises questions about the value placed on these women’s lives. Initially, a spokesperson claimed that the agency was tracking miscarriages in monthly reports, only to later admit that this was not the case. This duplicitous behavior speaks volumes about the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

The government’s response to inquiries about miscarriage tracking is telling. Faisal Al-Juburi, co-chief executive of Raíces, astutely observed: “When you don’t track something of that magnitude, then you don’t have to be confronted with the reality of what your policies have yielded.” The stories of Anabell, Laura, and Angie are a testament to this harsh reality.

This crisis is not an isolated incident, but rather a continuation of a disturbing trend. In recent years, we have seen a rise in reports of inadequate medical care for immigrants and asylum seekers. The 2018 report by Physicians for Human Rights highlighted the systemic neglect of migrant health needs. These issues are not new, but they have been consistently downplayed or ignored by policymakers.

As ICE’s parent agency, it is essential that we hold them accountable for their actions. We must demand transparency about the number of miscarriages among detained women, as well as a thorough examination of medical care practices within detention centers. Congress should prioritize legislation that addresses the root causes of this crisis: the inhumane treatment of pregnant detainees.

The health and dignity of pregnant women in ICE custody depend on policymakers breaking their silence and taking action. The consequences of inaction will only continue to exacerbate an already dire situation, leaving vulnerable women without access to basic medical care.