By Fatma Younis
Democratic lawmakers are demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement disclose how many pregnant immigrants suffered miscarriages, stillbirths, or pregnancy-related hospitalizations while in custody, after the agency admitted it lost track of such data for a nine-month period.
Lawmakers Seek Answers on Missing Data
In a letter to ICE acting director David Venturella, Representatives Brittany Pettersen, Joyce Beatty, and Robin Kelly, joined by 64 other House members, asked the agency to explain what steps have been taken to recover missing data on pregnancy outcomes. They cited a 2021 directive that generally prohibits detaining pregnant, postpartum, or nursing immigrants and requires close monitoring of their health.
Record Detention of Pregnant Immigrants
Government documents obtained by the Guardian show ICE detained more pregnant immigrants last fall and winter than at any time in the previous year. The agency recorded 18 miscarriages during the first nine months of the Trump administration but has no data after October 3, 2025. Detained women reported difficulty accessing routine and emergency medical care, and experts warned that lapses could turn treatable conditions into life-threatening emergencies.
Agency Blames Billing Change for Data Gap
Internal ICE documents indicate the agency lost miscarriage data because it changed medical billing providers in October 2025, causing months of delays in claims processing. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson initially said miscarriages were tracked in monthly reports but later confirmed the agency lacks data for the period between October 2025 and June 2026.
Agency Denies Substandard Care Allegations
A DHS spokesperson rejected allegations that pregnant detainees receive substandard care, calling such claims false. The agency did not confirm whether it had received the congressional letter.
Lawmakers Set Deadline for Response
The lawmakers asked ICE leadership to detail when it first became aware of reporting deficiencies and gave the agency until November 6 to respond. Prior to the Guardian's reporting, ICE had not acknowledged the data gap even when questioned by senators. The Guardian has filed a Freedom of Information Act request and a lawsuit to obtain the data.
