Trump Admin Said She Was Lying About Stillbirth in ICE Custody. New Evidence Points to Lack of Prenatal Care.

Last year, Iris Dayana Monterroso Lemus tragically lost her newborn son while being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Trump administration vehemently denied her claims that she did not receive adequate prenatal care, stating that she had "FULL medical, prenatal care," including an ultrasound and an OB-GYN visit.

However, newly obtained federal documents suggest otherwise. These records, accessed via a Freedom of Information Act request, indicate a lack of basic prenatal care that could have ensured a healthy pregnancy. According to Dr. Andrea Schecter, an OB-GYN with experience working with high-risk pregnancies, including those of immigrants, the administration was "engaged in CYA — cover your ass."

The documents show that Monterroso Lemus had complained about not feeling fetal movement several days before her stillbirth, but no action was taken. Despite a referral for an OB-GYN appointment, there is no evidence that she received an ultrasound or any prenatal care. Furthermore, Monterroso Lemus was deported to Guatemala just ten days after the stillbirth, as the documents detail her timeline.

The Trump administration has detained significantly more pregnant women in recent years compared to the Biden administration, which only detained about a dozen pregnant women annually. Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., introduced legislation to prohibit the detention of pregnant women and has been advocating for additional standards.

However, the bill remains in committee. The case of Monterroso Lemus highlights the inhumane treatment of pregnant women in immigration custody under the Trump administration, with advocates calling it unconscionable.