Nonprofit Asks For Help Tracking Pregnant ICE Detainees

Public News Service reports: As Illinois continues to be the target of aggressive federal immigration operations, among reports of more than 1,000 people being arrested so far, limited information has been shared about ICE detainees who are pregnant.

A nonprofit group helping women in crisis is working to change it. The Women’s Refugee Commission created the Detention Pregnancy Tracker to collect real-time information about pregnant, postpartum and nursing women detained by ICE. A current policy restricts the agency from arresting immigrants who are pregnant or postpartum except in extraordinary circumstances.

Melanie Nezer, vice president of advocacy and external relations for the commission, said ongoing reports indicate the policy is not being followed.

“We have learned that women are miscarrying in detention, that women are not getting the nutrition that they need for healthy pregnancies and that they are showing up after being deported, malnourished,” Nezer reported. “That’s a huge concern.”