An 18-month-old toddler was allegedly denied life-saving medication and proper nutrition after returning to immigration detention following hospitalization for severe respiratory illness, according to a federal lawsuit filed in Texas.
Medical Crisis at Detention Center
The child, identified as Amalia in court documents, developed a dangerous fever reaching 104 degrees on January 1st while detained with her parents at a Dilley, Texas, immigration facility. She began vomiting frequently and experienced breathing difficulties that worsened over several weeks. On January 18th, medical staff transported her to a hospital with critically low oxygen levels.
Doctors diagnosed Amalia with multiple serious conditions, including pneumonia, viral bronchitis, respiratory syncytial virus, and COVID-19. Medical professionals placed her on supplemental oxygen and kept her hospitalized for ten days until January 28th. Upon discharge, physicians prescribed a nebulizer and respiratory medications to continue her recovery.
Medication Confiscated Upon Return
The lawsuit alleges that detention center staff immediately confiscated Amalia’s prescribed medical equipment and medications when she returned to the facility. Authorities also reportedly took away nutritional drinks prescribed to help the toddler regain the ten percent of body weight she had lost during her illness. The family’s attorney, Elora Mukherjee, stated that the child nearly died at the Dilley facility.
Family Released After Legal Action
Amalia’s parents, Venezuelan nationals who arrived in the United States in 2024, were detained alongside their daughter during a routine immigration check-in on December 11th. The family filed their lawsuit on February 6th, seeking immediate release from detention. Immigration authorities released all three family members following the legal action. The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to requests for comment regarding the allegations. This case highlights ongoing concerns about conditions at immigration detention facilities and medical care standards for detained families seeking asylum protection.