Raquel* came to the U.S. as a child to seek asylum. After years of legal proceedings and responsibly complying with the immigration process, she was scheduled for an asylum interview on September 1st. Upon receiving the notice for Raquel’s interview, we immediately requested that her interview be rescheduled because Raquel was pregnant and was due to give birth just a few days before.
Raquel gave birth to her baby early on August 15th. They both experienced serious medical complications. Raquel experienced pain that did not allow her to stand, walk, or even sit for long periods of time. The baby was hospitalized for several days due to severe jaundice. Her medical provider told her she would require six weeks of recovery, meaning she would not be able to safely attend her interview. Concerned for Raquel and her baby, we once again followed up with the government to request a reschedule and shared her medical provider’s documentation. We still did not hear back from the government.
On September 1st, having inexplicably received no communication from the government to my request, I went to the asylum office as Raquel’s lawyer to explain the situation. Despite the medical documentation that warranted a reschedule, the government refused to reschedule Raquel’s interview and decided that she had failed to appear.
No mother should be faced with the decision Raquel was being forced to make: choose between protecting her health and the health of her newborn or attending her asylum interview. No one should be penalized for listening to medical advice or for protecting the health of their baby.
We are taking action to challenge the government’s decision that Raquel failed to appear for her asylum interview and will continue to pursue her asylum claim.
This is why advocates are critical to this work and why the administration is removing meaningful representation from people. We are here to ensure every person receives the constitutional and due process protections they are entitled to under the law and that their full humanity is honored.
We call on you to support our efforts to protect all children in immigration removal proceedings by ensuring they have an attorney by their side.
*Pseudonym