Key Takeaways
• Iris Dayana Monterroso-Lemus miscarried after waiting three days for medical help in ICE custody at Richwood Correctional Center.
• May 9, 2025 policy revoked protections for pregnant detainees, increasing detention risks for vulnerable groups.
• Between 2017-2018, 1,655 pregnant women were detained, showing a sharp increase and higher health risks.
A detained immigrant’s loss of pregnancy at Richwood Correctional Center in Louisiana has sparked renewed debate about the treatment of pregnant women in U.S. immigration custody. On May 27, 2025, the Nashville Banner reported that Iris Dayana Monterroso-Lemus, a detained immigrant, suffered a miscarriage after spending three days pleading for medical help while in ICE custody. Her story has raised serious questions about medical care standards, recent policy changes, and the broader impact on vulnerable people held in immigration detention centers.
What Happened at Richwood Correctional Center?
Iris Dayana Monterroso-Lemus, a pregnant immigrant, was held at Richwood Correctional Center in Louisiana. According to her account, she began experiencing severe pain and signs of pregnancy complications. For three days, she repeatedly asked staff for medical help. Monterroso-Lemus stated, “I had him inside here for three days, in this Louisiana facility, my baby dead in my stomach, inside my stomach for three days, dead.” Only after this period did she receive hospitalization.
Her experience is not unique. It highlights ongoing concerns about how detained immigrants, especially pregnant women, are treated in ICE custody. The Richwood Correctional Center, where Monterroso-Lemus was held, is one of many facilities contracted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hold people awaiting immigration proceedings or deportation.
Why Is This Case Getting Attention Now?
This incident comes at a time of major policy changes affecting detained immigrants. Just weeks before Monterroso-Lemus’s miscarriage, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) revoked several policies that had protected vulnerable groups in custody, including pregnant women, infants, elderly people, and those with serious medical conditions.
On May 9, 2025, acting CBP commissioner Pete Flores signed a memo that removed these protections, stating they were “misaligned with the agency’s current guidance and immigration enforcement priorities.” This policy shift has drawn strong criticism from civil rights groups, who argue that it puts the health and safety of the most vulnerable detainees at risk.
How Have Policies Changed for Pregnant Detainees?
Shift from Presumption of Release to Case-by-Case Detention
Under previous administrations, there was a presumption that pregnant women should not be detained unless absolutely necessary. This meant that, in most cases, pregnant women were released from custody while their immigration cases were processed.
The current administration has ended this presumption. Now, each case is reviewed individually. ICE policy states that women in their third trimester of pregnancy will generally not be detained “absent extraordinary circumstances.” However, this leaves room for interpretation and can result in more pregnant women being held in detention.
Civil Rights Groups Respond
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other advocacy organizations have condemned the rollback of protections. Sarah Mehta, deputy director of policy and government affairs for immigration at the ACLU, said, “The rescission of these policies — outlining the most basic care that should be provided to the most vulnerable people — is reflective of the cruelty that anchors the Trump administration’s immigration agenda.”
What Are the Standards for Medical Care in ICE Custody?
ICE has published Performance-Based National Detention Standards that require facilities to provide proper medical care for all detainees, including pregnant women. These standards include:
- Routine or specialized prenatal care
- Pregnancy testing
- Comprehensive counseling and assistance
- Access to qualified healthcare professionals
- No use of restraints on pregnant detainees, except in truly extraordinary circumstances
According to ICE’s own rules, detainees should be evaluated by a healthcare professional within 14 days of entering custody. Pregnant women should have access to a full range of health services, including screening, prevention, education, diagnosis, and treatment.
You can read more about ICE’s official detention standards on the ICE Detention Standards page.
Are Pregnant Women Frequently Detained?
Data from ICE shows that the number of pregnant women in detention has increased in recent years. Between October 1, 2017, and August 31, 2018, 1,655 pregnant women were booked into ICE custody. This is a sharp rise compared to 525 women during the previous period.
A report from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) covering April 1, 2023, through September 30, 2023, found that pregnant, postpartum, and nursing individuals in ICE custody had an average stay of 11.27 days. This is much shorter than the average stay for the general ICE population, which was 35.77 days. While shorter stays may reduce some risks, even brief periods in detention can be dangerous for pregnant women if proper care is not provided.
What Are the Health Risks for Pregnant Detainees?
Pregnancy always carries some risks, but these can be much higher for women in detention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that the U.S. maternal mortality rate has increased from 9.65 deaths per 100,000 live births at the turn of the century to 32.9 in 2021. This means that more women are dying from pregnancy-related causes in the United States 🇺🇸 than in many other developed countries.
Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) says that the leading causes of maternal death are hemorrhage (heavy bleeding) and hypertensive disorders like preeclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure). These conditions can become life-threatening very quickly and require fast medical attention. For detained immigrants, delays in care can have tragic results.
Medical records from ICE show that, from October 2016 through September 2017, 10 women in custody suffered miscarriages. This suggests that Monterroso-Lemus’s experience is not an isolated event.
What Happened After the Policy Changes?
The policy changes in May 2025 have made it easier for ICE and CBP to detain pregnant women and other vulnerable people. The memo signed by acting CBP commissioner Pete Flores removed special protections for pregnant individuals, infants, elderly detainees, and those with serious medical conditions.
Civil rights groups argue that these changes will lead to more cases like Monterroso-Lemus’s. They say that without clear rules requiring the release of pregnant women, more will be held in facilities that may not be equipped to provide the care they need.
Recent Enforcement Actions and Their Impact
The case of Monterroso-Lemus happened during a period of increased immigration enforcement. In early May 2025, ICE and the Tennessee Highway Patrol carried out a joint operation in Nashville, focusing on Latino neighborhoods. This operation resulted in 588 traffic stops and 196 arrests of undocumented residents. Despite official statements that ICE was targeting criminals, fewer than half of those arrested had any criminal record.
On May 14, 2025, ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons announced that nine detainees have died in custody since the current administration took office. This has raised more questions about the quality of medical care in detention centers.
What Are the Rights of Detained Immigrants?
Detained immigrants, including pregnant women, have the right to medical care. ICE’s standards require that all detainees have access to health services, including:
- Screening for health problems
- Prevention and health education
- Diagnosis and treatment of illnesses
- Access to prenatal and gynecological care
If you or someone you know is detained and needs help, you can contact the ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line at 1-888-351-4024 during regular business hours.
What Should Detained Pregnant Women Expect?
According to ICE’s own rules, pregnant detainees should:
- Be evaluated by a healthcare professional within 14 days of entering ICE custody
- Receive routine or specialized prenatal care
- Be provided with pregnancy testing and counseling
- Not be restrained unless absolutely necessary
However, as the case of Monterroso-Lemus shows, there can be a gap between official policy and what happens in practice. Advocates recommend that detained immigrants and their families keep detailed records of any medical requests and responses from facility staff.
What Are the Implications for Stakeholders?
For Detained Immigrants
Pregnant women in ICE custody face unique risks. Delays in medical care can lead to serious complications or even death. The loss of special protections means that more pregnant women may be detained, increasing the risk of harm.
For Families
Families of detained immigrants often struggle to get information about their loved ones’ health and well-being. The ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line is one resource, but families may still face barriers in getting timely updates.
For Advocacy Groups
Civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups are likely to continue pushing for the reinstatement of protections for pregnant detainees. They argue that detention is rarely appropriate for pregnant women and that alternatives, such as supervised release, should be used whenever possible.
For ICE and Detention Facilities
ICE and its contracted facilities, like Richwood Correctional Center, are under increased scrutiny. They must balance enforcement priorities with the legal and ethical obligation to provide adequate medical care. Failure to do so can result in lawsuits, public criticism, and, most importantly, harm to detainees.
What Can Be Done to Improve Conditions?
Advocates suggest several steps to protect pregnant detainees:
- Restore the presumption of release for pregnant women: This would mean that, in most cases, pregnant women would not be held in detention.
- Increase oversight of detention facilities: Regular inspections and independent monitoring can help ensure that medical care standards are met.
- Provide clear information to detainees and families: Detained immigrants should know their rights and how to request medical care.
- Use alternatives to detention: Supervised release and community-based programs can keep families together and reduce health risks.
Where Can Readers Find More Information?
For official information about ICE detention standards and the rights of detainees, visit the ICE Detention Standards page. This resource explains what facilities are required to provide and how detainees can request help.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the treatment of pregnant women in ICE custody remains a deeply concerning issue, especially as policy changes remove important protections. The gap between official standards and real-life experiences, like that of Monterroso-Lemus at Richwood Correctional Center, shows the urgent need for stronger oversight and more humane policies.
Practical Steps for Those Affected
If you or someone you know is a detained immigrant, especially a pregnant woman, consider these steps:
- Contact the ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line at 1-888-351-4024 for help or to report concerns.
- Keep detailed records of all medical requests and responses.
- Reach out to advocacy organizations for support and legal advice.
- Know your rights: Detained immigrants have the right to medical care, including prenatal services.
Conclusion
The loss of a pregnancy by a detained immigrant at Richwood Correctional Center has brought national attention to the treatment of pregnant women in ICE custody. Recent policy changes have removed important protections, making it more likely that vulnerable people will be held in detention. While ICE’s official standards require proper medical care, real-world cases show that these standards are not always met. Stakeholders—including detainees, families, advocacy groups, and ICE itself—must work together to ensure that all detained immigrants receive the care and respect they deserve.
For more information on your rights and ICE detention standards, visit the official ICE Detention Standards page. If you have concerns about a detained immigrant, especially someone who is pregnant, do not hesitate to seek help and demand accountability from detention facilities.
Learn Today
ICE → U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, agency responsible for detaining and deporting immigrants.
CBP → Customs and Border Protection, agency overseeing border security and immigration enforcement.
Detention Standards → Performance-based guidelines ICE facilities must follow to ensure detainees receive proper medical care.
Presumption of Release → Policy expecting pregnant women to be released unless detention is absolutely necessary.
Miscarriage → Loss of pregnancy before viability, requiring urgent medical attention especially in detention settings.
This Article in a Nutshell
A detained immigrant’s miscarriage at Richwood Correctional Center raises urgent concerns about ICE’s medical care and recent policy changes that removed protections for pregnant detainees, impacting vulnerable immigrants nationwide.
— By VisaVerge.com
