The case has intensified scrutiny surrounding the medical care provided to pregnant individuals held in immigration facilities.
Detention and Medical Concerns Under ICE Custody
The Salvadoran woman, identified in reports by her first name Daniela, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on December 24, 2025, while driving her sister to work in Baltimore, Maryland. At the time of her arrest, Daniela was pregnant and planned to share the news with her partner later that day as a Christmas surprise. According to her statements to N+ Univision Washington DC, she repeatedly asked detention facility staff for a pregnancy test upon arrival to ensure proper medical oversight.
During approximately four months of detention, Daniela was transferred across multiple facilities in Maryland, California, and Florida. She reported that the medication administered to her for a pre-existing thyroid condition differed in appearance and taste from her prescribed regimen, though reports note that her account alone does not establish a direct medical link between the medication and her subsequent pregnancy loss. While experiencing spotting and elevated blood pressure, she was transported by ambulance to a hospital in Miami, where she learned she had suffered a miscarriage. She stated that she remained restrained by her hands and feet during the transport.
Legal Representation and Systemic Scrutiny
Marice Morales, an immigration attorney representing Daniela, stated to N+ Univision Washington DC that the case underscores broader deficiencies in medical access for pregnant individuals held in immigration detention. Morales asserted that detainees routinely face barriers to receiving necessary clinical follow-up and specialized treatment. Beyond her medical treatment, Daniela’s legal team is managing an appeal against a judge’s denial of her asylum application and preparing potential legal actions concerning her detention conditions.
Daniela stated that she originally fled El Salvador approximately ten years ago after reporting an individual who had sexually abused her. She expressed fear that returning to her home country would jeopardize her safety, noting that legal proceedings against her abuser did not eliminate the risks she faces locally.
Broader Context of Immigration Facility Conditions
In a separate case documented by Conexion Migrante, 41-year-old Salvadoran migrant Edwin López Cornejo died on August 1, 2026, while in ICE custody at the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey. Federal officials attributed the death to a medical emergency, while family members and legal advocates contended that chronic conditions including diabetes and hypertension went unmanaged due to delayed or denied medications. Delaney Hall, operated by the private contractor GEO Group, has faced multiple federal lawsuits and protests from local officials regarding facility conditions and healthcare access.
Key Takeaways
Detention Timeline: Daniela was arrested by ICE on December 24, 2025, and experienced a miscarriage while under custody after being transferred between facilities in Maryland, California, and Florida.
Medical Allegations: Legal representatives have raised concerns over inadequate prenatal care and monitoring for pregnant individuals within the immigration detention system.
Asylum Status: Daniela’s legal team is actively appealing a denied asylum claim, citing fears of targeted violence if she is removed to El Salvador.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted Daniela’s detention by ICE?
According to reports by N+ Univision Washington DC, Daniela was detained by ICE agents on December 24, 2025, while driving her sister to work in Baltimore, Maryland.
What legal steps are Daniela’s attorneys taking?
Her lawyers are appealing a judge’s decision that denied her asylum application and are evaluating potential legal actions regarding the medical treatment and conditions she experienced while in custody.
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