A federal judge ruled Friday that a pregnant woman from Ghana and her 4-year-old son could not spend another night detained at Washington Dulles International Airport after being held there for more than a week.
Case Details
According to the American Civil Liberties Union, Anabella Gyasi arrived on May 19 with a valid tourist visa to bring her son to the U.S. for medical treatment. The ACLU filed a petition alleging that Gyasi and her son were being unlawfully detained despite policies that generally call for the release of pregnant women and children.
Court Ruling
The ACLU praised the decision, arguing that Gyasi’s health and pregnancy had been put at risk during the detention. Gyasi and her son were expected to return to Ghana on Friday.
Government Response
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said Gyasi remained in custody pending immigration proceedings and rejected claims of poor detention conditions, stating that detainees have access to medical care, medication, and food.
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