A Honduran family, which includes a 6-year-old suffering from leukemia, his mother, and sister were detained right after a compulsory immigration court hearing. The arrest happened in May and they have been kept in immigration custody since then. Despite their legally formal entry into the US soil in an attempt to find refuge, and the delicate state of health of the juvenile member, it appears that their deportation is quite imminent. Lawyers are left apprehensive about the boy’s health and are struggling for their freedom, foreseeing hurdles for the child’s consistent medical treatment if deported.
The advocates for the ill-fated family point out the injustice of their situation; the family followed the rules for seeking asylum, have no criminal records, and now find themselves in detention that’s not only illegal, but morally distressing. They argue that the arrest and detention of a family with a child diagnosed with leukemia is both unjust and unconstitutional. Their names aren’t publicly disclosed in court files due to possible threats they could face back in Honduras.
According to a statement from a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson issued on the 28th of June, the bulk of migrants who crossed the country borders within the past two years are prone to ‘expedited removal.’ This includes the Honduran family in question who sought entry to the US following the correct legal protocols in October using CBP’s One App to apply for a preliminary interview for asylum on the border.
The family found support and solace in living with the grandmother of the children in Los Angeles. They were part of the local community, with the children attending school and associating with the church. However, the sick boy, diagnosed with a deadly blood cancer at just 3 years old, still required chemotherapy after two and a half years, and had an expected half a year of further treatment remaining.
Changes instituted under the Biden administration put limitations on civil immigration enforcement, particularly in sensitive areas like courthouses. But, the liberty was curtailed soon after the introduction, promoting unwarranted detainment of unsuspecting individuals, including family members, at courthouses.
The lawyers representing the family emphasize a controversial May 27 memorandum from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This piece of legislation eradicated stipulations that obligated agents to respect state or local laws. Merely two days after its enactment, the Honduran family was called for a routine deportation hearing organized at Van Nuys Boulevard Immigration Court located in LA.
Surprisingly, they were instructed to visit the court as a complete family on May 29. However, the situation took a twist when officials unexpectedly proposed the dismissal of the removal procedure against the family, a decision which if approved, would enable them to stay while their case is sorted out. Yet, right after this seemingly positive turn, ICE agents arrested the family outside the hallway.
This move marked a dubious trend, where judges began hastily concluding the cases of migrants only for ICE to detain them upon leaving the courtroom. According to the USA TODAY Network, the activist organization, ‘American Immigration Lawyers Association,’ alarmed by this emerging pattern, has noted that some judges received prior intelligence from DHS lawyers on the deportation cases likely to be dismissed. Consequently, immigration judges who fail to cooperate face potential repercussions.
The detained family was held for an extended period at the court premises, followed by the ICE processing center. Unfortunately, this fearful encounter culminated in the boy’s panic, leading him to wet his clothes when he spotted an agent’s firearm. He was then reportedly forced to stay in his damp clothes for several hours, only intensifying their ordeal.
Following the incident, the family was transported to Texas, finding themselves confined for over a month in the South Texas Family Residential Center. The facility is under private management and was reopened after a closure. In her report, the mother verified that her son had lost his color and appetite, expressed easy bruising, and occasionally complained of bone pain – all indications of leukemia, according to their legal representatives.
A representative from DHS countered these claims stating that the family selected to appeal their case. As a result, they will remain in the ICE’s custody until there is a resolution. Moreover, the spokesperson denied any negligence in providing adequate care to the young boy during his stay, and stressed the accusation of ICE denying required medical care to a child is entirely incorrect.
However, a letter submitted to the court by a medical professor contradicts the DHS’s claims, asserting, based on the boy’s medical reports, that the boy still needs ongoing treatment involving radiation and chemotherapy. The mismatch between the DHS’s reassurances and the statements from medical and legal professionals cast a dark shadow over the already frail likelihood of justice prevailing in this situation.