DHS Confirms It's Breaking Its Own Rules by Detaining Hundreds of Pregnant & Postpartum Women

"Between January 2025 and February 15, 2026, DHS deported at least 363 pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women; at least 498 were "booked out of ICE custody" (detained before they left a facility); and as of February 16, at least 121 are still detained-with nine being in their third trimester."

"During the Biden administration, ICE was told they cannot detain anyone who's pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding unless their release is prohibited by law, or in the case of exceptional circumstances-like if the individual poses a national security concern, or poses an imminent risk of death, violence, or physical harm to another. But these situations, the law states, are "very limited.""

""We demanded accountability and clarity from then-Secretary Noem, and she left us with more questions than answers," Murray said in a statement. "The Trump Administration's barbaric treatment of pregnant women in immigration custody is completely unconscionable and according to their responses to our letter, they're going against their own standards.""

Between January 2025 and February 2026, the Department of Homeland Security released data showing that ICE deported at least 363 pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, booked out at least 498 others from custody, and detained at least 121 as of February 16, with nine in their third trimester. This data was released in response to a letter from Senator Patty Murray and 30 other Democrats demanding accountability for pregnant and postpartum individuals detained by ICE. The numbers represent the first public data since March 2025, when Congress allowed a biannual reporting requirement to lapse. Federal policy prohibits ICE from detaining pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding individuals except in exceptional circumstances involving national security or imminent risk of harm, which are defined as very limited situations.

Read at Jezebel