A 21-year-old pregnant woman has been detained for more than 40 days at the Dilley Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Texas alongside her infant son, according to her family and an advocacy group. Laura Rojas Ortiz, who is five months pregnant, was taken into custody during a routine check-in with ICE in Dallas on [date not specified in sources], her mother, Paola, told ABC News.
Rojas Ortiz had been wearing an ankle monitor and complying with ICE’s reporting requirements prior to her detention. Her family states she was in the process of applying for a U visa, which provides immigration relief for victims or witnesses of certain crimes, after a shooting in her neighborhood allegedly grazed her son. The incident prompted her to seek protection, her family said.
Medical concerns and alleged neglect
Paola reported that her daughter has a high-risk pregnancy but has not received medical evaluations, ultrasounds, or blood tests during her detention. "To this day, she hasn’t gotten an ultrasound or been seen by a specialist," Paola stated. "They haven’t done blood tests or anything." The family’s claims have not been independently verified by ICE or Dilley facility officials.
Background and immigration status
Rojas Ortiz turned herself in at the southern U.S. border over a year ago with her infant son and partner, according to her mother. She had been released into the U.S. with an ankle monitor and required to check in with ICE regularly. Her detention occurred amid the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration enforcement actions, though the specific rationale for her arrest has not been disclosed by ICE.
Policy context and advocacy responses
ICE’s 2017 directive states that the agency should avoid detaining individuals known to be pregnant, postpartum, or nursing, except under exceptional circumstances. Advocacy groups have argued that Rojas Ortiz’s detention violates this policy, citing the lack of medical care and her high-risk pregnancy. Democrats in Congress have urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to shut down the Dilley facility, framing it as part of broader concerns about immigration detention conditions.
ICE has not publicly addressed the family’s allegations or Rojas Ortiz’s medical care. The agency’s standard protocols for pregnant detainees include regular prenatal check-ups and access to medical specialists, though enforcement of these guidelines varies by facility.
Family and legal implications
Paola, who spoke to ABC News in Spanish, said her daughter’s detention has left her emotionally distressed and concerned about the pregnancy. "She was called to appear [at an ICE office] in Dallas," Paola recounted. "She showed up like she always does, and they detained her."
Rojas Ortiz’s case highlights ongoing debates over immigration enforcement, family detention, and access to healthcare for migrant populations. Her family has not indicated whether legal challenges will be pursued to secure her release or ensure proper medical care.