Maria Alejandra Gomez‑Quiroz, a 21‑year‑old who is five months pregnant, continues to be held at the federal immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas. Her sister, Kelly Ocampo, says she paid more than $3,000 to an individual who claimed to be an immigration lawyer and provided a letter on ICE letterhead indicating that a bond had been posted.
Family’s attempts to secure release
Ocampo received the letter last month and believed her sister would be released shortly. The document stated that the immigration bond ordered by the Immigration Court had been “successfully paid through an official payment method authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.” However, a month later Gomez‑Quiroz remains in custody, now detained for over 40 days.
Ocampo told ABC News the situation was a scam. She says the alleged lawyer never responded to follow‑up inquiries, leaving the family with no recourse and having exhausted their savings.
Background on the detention
Gomez‑Quiroz and her partner fled violent guerrilla activity in Colombia and entered the United States in June, where she was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol. A DHS spokesperson confirmed she was convicted of illegal entry on July 6 and is awaiting the outcome of removal proceedings.
The Dilley facility currently holds at least 500 detainees, including four pregnant women, according to congressional staff. The detention of pregnant individuals has drawn criticism from immigrant‑advocacy groups, medical professionals, and lawmakers who argue it may violate an ICE directive that limits the detention of pregnant, postpartum, or nursing persons except in exceptional circumstances.
Legal oversight and medical concerns
A federal district judge in California has appointed a special master and independent monitor to review “time in custody” at Dilley, ensuring compliance with prior settlement guidelines. The order also requires monitoring of “adequate access to medical care” for detainees.
Immigration lawyers have argued that the administration is holding people longer than allowed by earlier court settlements. While DHS maintains that it provides comprehensive medical care from the moment a person enters ICE custody, Gomez‑Quiroz’s family reports that she has experienced lower abdominal pain and appears depressed.
Broader immigration context
The case occurs amid ongoing debates over the federal government’s immigration enforcement policies. Critics contend that the current approach, which began under the previous administration and continues today, places vulnerable individuals—including pregnant women—at risk of prolonged detention without clear medical oversight.
Family members hope that the special master’s review will lead to a faster resolution for Gomez‑Quiroz and other detainees facing similar circumstances.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
