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A pregnant Ghanaian woman and her young son have been held for over a week at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Anabella Gyasi arrived at the airport on May 19 with a valid tourist visa, intending to bring her 4-year-old son to the U.S. for medical treatment. Since then, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has kept them confined in a holding room, the ACLU reported, citing the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies.
The ACLU filed a habeas petition on Tuesday, arguing that Gyasi and her son are being unlawfully detained despite established rules that mandate the release of vulnerable individuals, including pregnant women and children. The petition also references a court settlement requiring children to be transferred out of detention within 72 hours.
Gyasi first brought her son to the U.S. in 2024 for specialist care due to physical abnormalities affecting both of his hands. At that time, doctors said he was too young for corrective surgery. This month, she scheduled a pre-operation appointment at a children’s hospital in Ohio, planning to travel on the same tourist visa.
Upon their arrival at Dulles, CBP officers questioned Gyasi and her son about their trip. Although their visas were valid, Gyasi expressed fear of returning to Ghana due to persecution, leading to their immediate detention.
Since then, the pair have been held in a small, windowless room equipped only with a bed, toilet, and sink, where they remain locked in 24 hours a day. The ACLU highlighted a recent CBP policy requiring physical custody of all asylum seekers at ports of entry, which they say contradicts longstanding practices.
CBP facilities are not designed for long-term detention, the petition states, and “hold rooms” within airports lack proper medical services. During her detention, Gyasi was hospitalized twice, diagnosed with stress-related complications, and prescribed medication to manage bleeding and blood pressure.
Concerns have also been raised about the welfare of Gyasi’s son and her unborn child, with reports that she was prevented from buying food for her son, leaving them hungry. Out of desperation, Gyasi signed a deportation order, though she does not wish to abandon her asylum claim.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson confirmed Gyasi remains in CBP custody at Dulles awaiting her immigration hearing, denying claims about inadequate conditions and food, stating all detainees receive appropriate care including medical attention and meals.
On Wednesday, a federal judge ordered the government to justify the detention legally, warning that failure to do so would lead to their immediate release to allow the boy’s planned medical treatment to proceed.
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema emphasized the urgency, underscoring the need for a swift resolution in the interest of the family’s health and legal rights.