Pregnant woman with 4-year-old son forced to sign deportation papers after being detained at US airport for days

A pregnant woman from Ghana and her young son have been held at Washington Dulles International Airport for more than a week, according to attorneys. They said the pair were kept in a windowless holding cell despite having serious health problems.Annabella Gyasi, 38, arrived at Dulles Airport last Tuesday after traveling from Ghana to Ohio for medical treatment with her four-year-old son. The boy, who was born with deformed hands, will be evaluated at Akron Children’s Hospital on May 30 to determine if he is now old enough for surgery, according to an emergency court petition filed by the ACLU of Virginia.Instead of boarding a connecting flight, Jassy and her son were detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.The pair had previously traveled to the United States in 2024 to seek treatment for their child, but returned to Ghana after doctors advised the child was too young for surgery.Gyasi, who is more than four months pregnant, told immigration officials she feared returning to Ghana because of the persecution she and her son faced. Her lawyer said it was that statement that led to her detention.“Ms. Gyasi traveled to the United States legally to obtain necessary medical care for her son, but the unlawful detention and inhumane treatment she suffered at Dulles International Airport is endangering the health of her son and herself,” Sophia Gregg, senior immigration rights attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, said in a statement.Since arriving in the United States, Gyasi has been hospitalized twice for pregnancy-related complications, including vaginal bleeding and dizziness, legal documents say. Despite receiving treatment, she was returned to airport detention after two hospital visits. Doctors were concerned she was not eating enough and suffering from stress while in detention. They also claimed that repeated requests for additional food for the mother and child were refused.Gyasi ultimately agreed to sign the deportation papers because she feared for her unborn baby’s health and believed it was the only way to ensure adequate food, according to the ACLU. Her legal team later told authorities the decision was made out of desperation.The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has denied the abuse allegations.“These allegations are false,” the department said in a statement.“Every person detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including this individual, has access to appropriate care, including medical evaluation by a physician, medications and food,” they added.Immigration officials argued that Gyasi could not enter the country on a tourist visa because she had stated under oath that she intended to seek asylum and had no intention of returning to Ghana.