Bishops Express Concerns About Treatment of Women in Immigration Detention
Two prominent U.S. bishops have raised serious concerns regarding the treatment of pregnant and postpartum women within immigration detention centers. In a recent letter to Mark Wayne, the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, and Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of Victoria, Texas, highlighted alarming medical neglect faced by these women.
The bishops reported that pregnant detainees are often deprived of necessary medical care, leading to dire consequences, including miscarriages. They also noted an increasing number of breastfeeding mothers being separated from their infants during detentions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
As the current chairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Pro-Life Activities Committee and Immigration Committee, respectively, they find the current situation unacceptable. Their message comes in the wake of a February 13 letter where more than 30 pro-life leaders urged former President Donald Trump and other officials to restore federal guidelines aimed at discouraging the detention of pregnant and postpartum mothers.
The bishops emphasized that medical advocacy groups and investigative reports have documented serious issues related to the detention of women with high-risk pregnancies, including delayed emergency care and incidents of miscarriage and stillbirth. They stressed that policies currently in place are failing to protect vulnerable populations, stating that unborn children are suffering as a result of such practices.
A recent joint report from the Women’s Refugee Commission and Physicians for Human Rights corroborated these claims, revealing that ICE frequently violates its own guidelines regarding family unity and fails to provide adequate medical care for pregnant women facing life-threatening conditions. The report detailed instances of abuse, insufficient medical care, inadequate nutrition, and the shackling of pregnant and postpartum detainees.
The report included harrowing testimonies, including that of a 25-year-old woman who experienced significant bleeding while in detention but received no medical attention despite multiple requests. Another individual described being deported following an untreated miscarriage, underscoring the urgent nature of these issues.
Furthermore, a BabyCenter poll conducted in February 2026 revealed that one in five pregnant women felt unable to access prenatal care due to ICE’s enforcement actions. In their correspondence, Bishops Thomas and Cahill expressed deep concern regarding the rescission of guidance on the care of pregnant and postpartum women in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
While the bishops acknowledged that ICE policy generally discourages the arrest and detention of women and their children, they lamented that this guidance is often overlooked in practice. They urged ICE to adhere to Directive 11032.4, which emphasizes identifying and monitoring the unique needs of pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding individuals, advocating against detention except in truly exceptional circumstances.
By aligning these practices with the recent pro-life initiatives taken by the current administration, the bishops argue for the protection of all vulnerable mothers, infants, and unborn children, stressing that no justification exists for endangering their health and safety simply due to immigration status.
