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A recent story involving a pregnant Guatemalan woman who suffered a miscarriage in ICE custody has ignited controversy after Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal publicly condemned immigration authorities, claiming they denied her adequate medical care.
The woman, Iris Dayana Monterroso-Lemus, was arrested by ICE in Tennessee on March 26 and later transferred to multiple facilities before ending up at Richwood Correctional Center in Louisiana. According to media reports, she was four to five weeks pregnant when taken into custody and began experiencing abdominal pain over several days without receiving medical attention. On April 29, she was taken to a hospital, where she delivered a stillborn child. Medical records cited in the reports said the pregnancy was complicated by a lack of prenatal care.
Jayapal posted on social media accusing ICE of inhumane treatment, writing that Monterroso-Lemus was fed food “full of cockroaches” and forced to sleep on the floor. “This is absolutely disgusting and we should all be outraged,” she said.
However, the Department of Homeland Security has pushed back against these claims. In an official statement, DHS said that Monterroso-Lemus received multiple OB-GYN visits, ultrasounds, and was taken to the hospital as soon as signs of fetal distress appeared. Officials also said there was no record that she filed any grievances or that she was denied care.
The case has stirred strong emotions on both sides of the immigration debate. Advocates for detainees argue that Monterroso-Lemus’s story highlights systemic failures in the treatment of vulnerable immigrants, especially pregnant women. Critics of Jayapal, however, say she rushed to amplify unverified claims and politicized a tragic event.
Adding to the controversy are questions about Monterroso-Lemus’s background. Reports indicate she had lived in the U.S. for over a decade and had six children, two of whom are in the custody of her mother. A warrant had been issued for her earlier this year for missing a custody hearing involving one or more of her children.
While an official investigation into her claims has not been announced, the incident is fueling ongoing concerns over conditions at privately operated detention centers and how ICE handles medical care for detainees.
As the debate continues, Monterroso-Lemus has since been deported to Guatemala, but the fallout from her case may shape the future of immigration policy and oversight.
