Between January 1, 2025, and February 16, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported 363 pregnant, postpartum, or nursing women, according to data released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following a Senate inquiry. As of mid-February 2026, 86 pregnant women remained detained by ICE, including 9 in their final trimester. By late September 2025, 16 miscarriages had been reported in detention. DHS admitted it is not fully tracking nursing mothers in custody.

ICE’s official policy states that pregnant, postpartum, or nursing women are generally not to be detained for administrative immigration violations unless legally required or under exceptional circumstances. However, this policy is routinely ignored. Reports from Physicians for Human Rights and the Women’s Refugee Commission highlight inadequate medical care for pregnant detainees.

ICE also cannot confirm the status of 498 cases involving pregnant or nursing women, leaving it unclear whether these women were deported, released, or attended medical appointments. Despite legal alternatives that allow migrants to remain at home during their immigration proceedings, these options are often disregarded.

Detaining pregnant women and nursing mothers in facilities that deny adequate care, separating infants from parents, and deporting women late in pregnancy violate U.S. law, constitutional protections, and international human rights standards. These actions reflect deliberate policy decisions with real human consequences.