Donald Trump administration deports 10-year-old US citizen recovering from brain cancer surgery
ArchiveFirst published March 17, 2025. It may not reflect later developments.
A Texas family was deported to Mexico while on their way to a hospital for their 10-year-old daughter’s check-up. The girl, recovering from brain cancer, was traveling with her undocumented parents when they were stopped at an immigration checkpoint. Though the family had made the trip multiple times before with legal letters from doctors and lawyers, authorities rejected the documents this time and detained them.
Despite having no criminal history, the parents were arrested. Their daughter, along with four other children—most of whom are U.S. citizens—faced separation. Given the choice to be deported as a family or risk foster care for their children, the parents opted to stay together. “Here’s the issue. You knew you were in the country illegally and chose to have a child,” said Trump’s border czar Tom Homan.
Once deported, the family initially stayed in a shelter before moving into a house, but they fear for their safety. Their 15-year-old son also suffers from Long QT syndrome, a life-threatening heart condition. Their mother expressed concern that without access to U.S. healthcare, her children cannot receive proper treatment.
