WASHINGTON — Lawmakers this week condemned the Trump administration’s termination of humanitarian protections which have left a 4-year-old lady who’s receiving essential medical remedy in Los Angeles susceptible to deportation and loss of life.
On Tuesday, The Instances revealed the story of S.G.V., who has brief bowel syndrome — a uncommon situation that forestalls her physique from utterly absorbing vitamins. She and her mother and father acquired momentary permission to enter the U.S. legally by means of Tijuana in 2023.
In a letter Thursday to Division of Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem, 38 congressional Democrats, together with California Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, urged her to rethink the termination of the household’s authorized standing.
“We imagine this household’s state of affairs clearly meets the necessity for humanitarian support and urge you and this Administration to rethink its resolution,” the lawmakers wrote. “It’s our responsibility to guard the sick, susceptible, and defenseless.”
Final month, S.G.V.’s household, who now reside in Bakersfield, acquired discover from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Companies that their standing had been terminated and that they needed to depart the nation instantly. Earlier this month, they utilized once more for humanitarian protections.
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary within the Division of Homeland Safety, stated in an announcement that the household isn’t actively within the deportation course of and that their software remains to be being thought-about.
The lady’s doctor, Dr. John Arsenault of Youngsters’s Hospital Los Angeles, wrote in a letter requested by her household that any interruption in her every day diet system “may very well be deadly inside a matter of days.”
The story about S.G.V. drew swift public outcry. A web based fundraiser for the lady’s care had amassed almost $26,000 as of Thursday morning.
The letter to Noem was led by Reps. Luz Rivas (D-North Hollywood) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles). Rivas stated state legislators and constituents messaged her concerning the household, asking what she may do to assist.
Whereas the household lives outdoors of Rivas’ district, which encompasses the north-central San Fernando Valley, she stated it’s her position as a California Democrat and a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to talk up for immigrant constituents in districts the place Republican representatives might not achieve this.
“That’s why we’re organizing as members of Congress,” Rivas stated. “With out motion from Secretary Noem and this administration, this little lady will die inside days.”
In a submit on X, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) referred to as the state of affairs “heartbreaking.” Searching for to deport the lady regardless of her medical situation is “merciless and inexcusable,” Chu added.
In one other X submit, Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) wrote: “Trump needs to deport a four-year-old who may die from a life-threatening medical situation if her remedy is interrupted. How does this cruelty make us a stronger nation?”
The household and their attorneys held a information convention Wednesday on the Koreatown workplace of the professional bono agency, Public Counsel. The attorneys defined that the tools administered by the hospital to S.G.V. for house use isn’t accessible outdoors the U.S.
“In the event that they deport us and so they take away my daughter’s entry to specialised medical care, she is going to die,” stated Deysi Vargas.
Attorneys for the household famous that S.G.V. is not the one little one affected in latest months by the Trump administration’s immigration insurance policies. In an try to hurry up arrests and deportations, they stated, youngsters are needlessly being swept up within the course of.
Gina Amato Lough, directing lawyer at Public Counsel, stated the lady’s case “is an emblem of the recklessness of this administration’s deportation insurance policies.”
“We’re seeing a sample of cruelty and a violation of our most treasured rights and values,” stated Amato Lough. “These are individuals coming to us for defense, and as an alternative we’re sending them to die. That’s not justice, and it doesn’t make us any safer.”
