‘She almost died’: 18-month-old girl returned to ICE custody, refused medication despite life-threatening condition, lawsuit says

An 18-month-old girl was detained by U.S. immigration authorities for weeks but was returned to custody and denied medication after she was hospitalized with a life-threatening respiratory illness, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court in Texas.The child, known as “Amalia” in the lawsuit, was released by immigration authorities under President Donald Trump’s administration after her parents filed a lawsuit on Friday. The parents, who were also detained, were also released. The lawsuit calls for the three to be released, Reuters reported.The family was detained while checking in with immigration authorities on Dec. 11 and held at a facility in Dilley, Texas, the lawsuit said. Amalia was hospitalized from Jan. 18 to Jan. 28 and returned to Dealey Hospital during the measles outbreak, the lawsuit states.“Baby Amalia should never have been detained. She almost died in Dilli,” said Elora Mukherjee, the family’s lawyer.Mukherjee said hundreds of children and families detained in Dilli lacked adequate drinking water, healthy food, educational opportunities or adequate medical care and should be released.The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday.NBC News first reported the lawsuit.The Trump administration has been accused of using heavy-handed and inhumane tactics and violating court orders in carrying out its mass deportation program.