Federal judges are sounding alarm bells about the Trump administration’s treatment of pregnant and nursing detainees in ICE custody, as their own conflicting statements raise concerns about whether they are following their own policies. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, stated that “being in detention is a choice,” encouraging “all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App.”
McLaughlin also claimed that “Pregnancy in ICE detention is exceedingly rare,” making up only 0.133% of all individuals in custody. She stated that pregnant women receive comprehensive care, including regular prenatal visits, mental health services, nutritional support, and 24-hour emergency care. However, federal judges are clearly pushing back, arguing that many of these women should not have been detained in the first place.
