Lawmakers are seeking the release of Anabell, an immigrant woman who says that — despite pleading for help after experiencing bleeding and severe pain, indications of a possible miscarriage — she has received limited medical care in detention.

Despite repeated requests, neither the lawmakers pushing for the woman’s release nor her attorney have been able to access her medical records.

Anabell herself has not seen them, leaving her in the dark about what actual care she received and what could have happened to her pregnancy, including whether she had a very early miscarriage.

People detained by ICE are legally entitled to records of any medical care provided while they are in federal custody, and DHS says it provides medical records to any detainee who requests them.

But formerly detained women and immigration attorneys alike have called the process of obtaining those records cumbersome, and in some cases functionally unworkable.

Democratic Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois is one of the lawmakers pushing for Anabell’s release and met with the woman last month.

In December, Ramirez introduced a resolution calling on the Trump administration to permanently reinstate policies protecting pregnant immigrants and to closely monitor reproductive health care quality and access across all detention facilities.

“Today is a perfect example why this legislation is so incredibly important,” Ramirez said after she met with Anabell.

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✍️: Mel Leonor Barclay & Shefali Luthra
📸: National Immigrant Justice Center