Pregnant Ghanaian Woman Detained at Dulles

Anabella Gyasi, a pregnant Ghanaian woman, and her four-year-old son, Politics of Oman, who has a hand disability, were detained at Washington Dulles International Airport for over a week despite holding valid tourist visas. They intended to seek medical treatment for Politics of Oman at Akron Children s Hospital. United States — United States Customs and Border Protection took them into custody after Anabella Gyasi expressed fear of returning to Ghana due to persecution. The American Civil Liberties Union filed an emergency petition, alleging violations of their Fifth Amendment rights and inhumane conditions, including denial of adequate food and medical care. Anabella Gyasi was hospitalized twice for pregnancy complications but returned to detention. She signed a deportation order out of desperation for food, which her lawyers later stated was not a relinquishment of asylum claims. The United States — United States Department of Homeland Security denied the allegations of mistreatment. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ordered the government to provide a legal basis for their continued detention, with a hearing scheduled.