Deported family of 11-year-old U.S. citizen recovering from a rare brain tumor requests humanitarian parole

An 11-year-old girl who is a U.S. citizen and is recovering from a rare brain tumor has been living in Mexico since immigration authorities removed her from Texas when they deported her undocumented parents four months ago.
Four of her siblings, three of whom are also U.S. citizens, were also sent to Mexico with the parents.
Since then, the girl's health condition has not improved, her mother told NBC News. In an attempt to return to the United States to get her the care she needs, the family applied for humanitarian parole with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Thursday.
'We're fighting for my girl's life," the mother said, adding that her daughter isn't recovering from "just any disease. ... She is not going to be cured overnight; it's something that takes time.'
Their request is for the undocumented parents and the girl's noncitizen sibling to be allowed to enter and live in the U.S. temporarily, so that the ailing girl can have "the full support of her family as she gets treatment to help save her life,' said Danny Woodward of the Texas Civil Rights Project, a legal advocacy organization representing the family.
The mother said her daughter's headaches and dizziness have worsened. The symptoms have become so recurrent that the girl's parents spend sleepless nights taking turns monitoring and caring for her.
'She is very scared,' mother said. "We want to be there for her, we want to take care of her 100% like we've been doing so far. We don't want to be separated from her for even a minute."
When the girl was in the U.S., under the care of doctors in Houston "who saved her life," the parents were instructed to rush her to the hospital for an emergency check-up whenever she felt these symptoms, the mother said.
"But out here, that is impossible," she said in Spanish from Mexico, where her family was deported to Monterrey, an area known for the kidnapping of U.S. citizens. 'Where am I going to go?"
NBC News is not publishing the family members' names out of concerns for their safety.
Medical records show the child underwent surgery last year to remove a brain tumor caused by an 'unnamed 'novel' condition,' according to Woodward. This means that few medical specialists can effectively treat and monitor her.
The mother said the girl's doctors in the U.S. were not just treating her daughter's illness; they were "also studying it because they don't know what caused it, why it was so aggressive." Even from Mexico, she has been in touch with the girl's doctors in the U.S., but they can't really assess what's happening to her from afar.
The surgery that saved her life last year did leave the girl with some lasting side effects. The swelling on her brain is still not fully gone, causing difficulties with speech and mobility of the right side of her body as well as memory problems. These require the girl to routinely checking in with doctors monitoring her recovery, get MRI scans every three months, attend rehabilitation therapy sessions and take medication to prevent seizures.
But she has not been able to consistently access this care since the family was deported, her mother and attorney said.
The mother insists that the rod fixator preventing her daughter's right foot from turning inward needs to be replaced, as the girl trips more than usual.
Her seizure medication is being sent to her from the United States because the family can't find the exact one she needs in Mexico, Woodward said. MRIs have also "turned out to be very expensive and challenging for the family to get in Mexico.'
The girl has only been able to get one medical checkup and MRI in Monterrey. The experience made the mother realize how difficult it would be to get a new doctor in Mexico who can get up to speed with her daughter's medical history and treat her illness.
'Not any doctor wants to take on such a huge commitment,' the mother said. "It's like starting from scratch, or worse."
Additionally, 'the stress of the whole situation has definitely played a negative role' in the girl's recovery, Woodward said. 'This family has been severely traumatized."
A family's 'truncated dreams'
On Feb. 3, the family was driving from the Rio Grande Valley area, where they lived, to Houston, where the girl's doctors are based, for an emergency medical checkup.
On the way, they stopped at a stateside immigration checkpoint, one they have passed through multiple times. But this time, immigration authorities arrested the parents after they were unable to show legal immigration documentation. Five of their children, ages 15, 13, 11, 8 and 6, were with them when they were arrested.
Woodward said the parents have never done anything to make them a priority for removal. The entire family was taken to a detention facility, where they spent 24 hours before they were placed in a van and dropped on the Mexico side of a Texas bridge on Feb. 4.
"Another layer of this is the fact that the parents were never even given their due process rights, so they never were allowed to go in front of an immigration judge to plead their case," said Rochelle Garza, president of the Texas Civil Rights Project.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees USCIS, previously told NBC News that reports of the family's situation are 'inaccurate' and declined to speak on the specifics of the case, citing privacy reasons. They said in a statement that when 'someone is given expedited removal orders and chooses to disregard them, they will face the consequences.'
The eldest son, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen, was left behind in the U.S.
"The older boy woke up one morning and learned that his entire family was gone," Woodward said. He graduated high school alone, without his family.
'It breaks our hearts,' the mother said as she wept, adding that her son dreams of going to college and becoming a neurosurgeon after seeing how doctors saved his sister's life, but 'he can't do that alone. He needs our support — even though we talk to him every day, it's really hard to be away."
Instead of going to college, her son is working a fast-food job, hoping to soon see his family return home.
While the Trump administration has aggressively stepped up the pace of deportations, including for immigrants who don't have criminal charges or convictions against them, there are three recent cases giving the girl's family hope.
A Mexican mother living in California and her 4-year-old girl, who suffers from a life-threatening intestinal illness, were granted humanitarian parole this month following a public plea for deportation relief. In April, a Venezuelan immigrant in Chicago was released from immigration detention under humanitarian parole to serve as an organ donor for his ailing brother. In March, an undocumented mother in California caring for her 21-year-old daughter, a U.S. citizen undergoing treatment for bone cancer, was detained by immigration authorities and later released "for humanitarian reasons."
Even though the relatives in these cases were not deported, Woodward said, "I don't think that should make any difference from the perspective of the federal government."
"It's a discretionary choice for them to make," he said. "Our case, I think, it's a very strong one for humanitarian parole."
The family's parole application includes letters of support from several members of Congress, including Democratic Reps. Adriano Espaillat of New York and Sylvia Garcia and Joaquin Castro of Texas, all of whom met with the family in Mexico last month.
"We want them to give us that chance," the mother said. "We are not criminals. We are not delinquents. We simply want to save our daughter."

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Wales Online

2 hours ago

• Wales Online

'My rare condition made me gain 10st - I lost it all by doing a daily exercise'

'My rare condition made me gain 10st - I lost it all by doing a daily exercise' Hannah Mai, 37, was diagnosed with Cushing's disease - a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol - in October 2020, after gaining 10 stone in two and a half years Hannah Mai, before her weight loss journey. (Image: Hannah Mai© SWNS ) A woman who piled on 10 stone because of a rare medical condition has impressively shed the weight in just two years by committing to daily exercise. Hannah Mai, 37, was diagnosed with Cushing's disease - a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol - in October 2020, after gaining 10 stone in two and a half years. ‌ Five months after her diagnosis, in February 2021, Hannah underwent brain surgery to remove the pituitary tumour that causes the condition, and was placed on steroids to control her condition. ‌ Come April 2023, having been weaned off steroid treatment, Hannah was determined to lose the 10 stone she put on as a result of her condition. At her heaviest, she weighed 20 stone 5lbs, wearing size 26 clothes. In two years, Hannah slimmed down to 10 stone 4lbs and a size 10 by eating high-protein meals and doing pilates every day. Hannah, from Coventry, Warwickshire, said: "Once I started losing the weight, I just kept isn't easy, you really have to push yourself, and focus on who you want to be and think about who you want to be." Having noticed an unwelcome weight gain when she hit 30, Hannah found herself rapidly going from nine stone to 16 stone within mere months. Article continues below Hannah Mai, before her weight loss journey. (Image: Hannah Mai© SWNS ) Hannah shared her ordeal, recalling how repeated visits to the doctor left her frustrated as her concerns were often dismissed with queries about pregnancy or attributed to her hormones. Hannah added: "I was always around nine stone, but I noticed how I started to gain a bit of weight." ‌ "I knew there was something wrong with me, but people around me thought I had changed my diet and asked if I was eating more." "I was asked if I was pregnant six times, and told that my weight gain could be caused by hormones. I went up to 20 stone at my heaviest." In October 2020, more than two years after she started gaining weight, Hannah woke up one morning with a hunched back. After researching, Hannah discovered Cushing's disease could explain her condition. After seeing the other symptoms - including weight gain - she went straight to the doctor. ‌ Hannah Mai, after her weight loss journey. (Image: Hannah Mai© SWNS ) She took concrete steps towards diagnosis as her situation worsened: "I printed off the list of symptoms and took them to my doctor, who then referred me to the hospital." The doctor transferred her to University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire, where an MRI scan and blood test confirmed she had Cushing's disease. ‌ Hannah said: "I printed off the list of symptoms and took them to my doctor, who then referred me to the hospital. There, I had an MRI scan and blood tests, which confirmed that I had Cushing's disease. "I was relieved but scared when I got the diagnosis. I had been saying for years that there was something wrong with me." With a conclusive diagnosis, Hannah underwent critical surgery: five months after her diagnosis, in February 2021, she had brain surgery to remove the tumour causing her condition and began steroid therapy for management. Hannah was eventually taken off her steroid medication after a two-year period, once her condition began to improve. ‌ Hannah Mai, after her weight loss journey. (Image: Hannah Mai© SWNS ) After she came off her medication, Hannah said she knew she was better and became determined to lose weight. Hannah added: "It wasn't easy to lose weight whilst I was still on steroids, as soon as I came off them, I knew this was my body and I was a lot better. "I really pushed myself, I worked super hard, cut out all sugar, cut out dairy, and gluten after I was diagnosed with celiac disease. I have a low-carb, high-protein diet with lots of vegetables, and I do pilates every day." ‌ Over the course of two years, Hannah successfully lost a substantial amount of weight, dropping from 20 stone to 10 stone. Hannah Mai, after her weight loss journey. (Image: Hannah Mai© SWNS ) As a result, she went from wearing size 26 clothes to fitting into a size 10, ultimately returning to her pre-Cushing's disease weight. ‌ Hannah said: "I am super proud of myself, I am always worried that the weight will come back. "I feel so much happier. When I look back at myself, I just can't believe I was that size. "When I look back at old photos, I feel very sad about what happened to me, but it makes me think that I need to be proud about how far I have come." Article continues below Hannah is currently raising money for The Pituitary Foundation.

Daily Mirror

2 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

'I gained 10st out of nowhere - I lost it doing simple exercise '

Hannah Mai, 37, managed to lose the weight in two years by doing a simple daily exercise A woman who piled on 10 stone due to a rare condition has shed the weight in just two years, thanks to a daily exercise routine. Hannah Mai, 37, was diagnosed with Cushing's disease, a hormonal disorder caused by high cortisol levels, in October 2020 after gaining 10 stone in just two and a half years. ‌ Following her diagnosis, Hannah underwent brain surgery in February 2021 to remove the pituitary tumour causing her condition and was prescribed steroids to manage it. ‌ In April, 2023, Hannah was taken off her steroid medication and was determined to shed the 10 stone she gained due to the disease - who weighed 20 stone 5lbs and was a size 26. Through a combination of high-protein meals and daily pilates sessions, Hannah impressively slimmed down to 10 stone 4lbs, fitting into a size 10, all within two years. Hannah, from Coventry, Warwickshire, said: "Once I started losing the weight, I just kept going. "It isn't easy, you really have to push yourself, and focus on who you want to be and think about who you want to be." When she turned 30, Hannah noticed she started gaining weight and went from nine stone to 16 stone in a few months. She revealed that despite frequent doctor visits, she was constantly asked if she was expecting or if her weight gain was due to hormonal changes. ‌ Hannah shared: "I was always around nine stone, but I noticed how I started to gain a bit of weight. I knew there was something wrong with me, but people around me thought I had changed my diet and asked if I was eating more. "I was asked if I was pregnant six times, and told that my weight gain could be caused by hormones. I went up to 20 stone at my heaviest." ‌ In October 2020, over two years since her weight began to increase, Hannah woke up one day with a hunched back. After a quick Google search suggested Cushing's disease as a possible cause, and noticing the other symptoms including weight gain, she immediately sought medical advice. She was referred to University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire, where an MRI scan and blood tests confirmed she had Cushing's disease. ‌ Hannah added: "I printed off the list of symptoms and took them to my doctor, who then referred me to the hospital. "There, I had an MRI scan and blood tests, which confirmed that I had Cushing's disease. "I was relieved but scared when I got the diagnosis. I had been saying for years that there was something wrong with me." ‌ Five months post-diagnosis, in February 2021, Hannah underwent brain surgery to remove the pituitary tumour causing the condition, and was put on steroids to manage her symptoms. After battling with her health and spending two years on steroids to manage her condition, Hannah came off the medication as her health improved. After she came off her medication, Hannah said she knew she was better and became determined to lose weight. ‌ She said: "It wasn't easy to lose weight whilst I was still on steroids, as soon as I came off them, I knew this was my body and I was a lot better. "I really pushed myself, I worked super hard, cut out all sugar, cut out dairy, and gluten after I was diagnosed with celiac disease. ‌ "I have a low-carb, high-protein diet with lots of vegetables, and I do pilates every day." Her commitment paid off as she impressively slimmed down from 20 stone to 10 stone within two years. She went from wearing a size 26 clothes to wearing a size 10 - back to where she was before Cushing's disease. ‌ Hannah said: "I am super proud of myself, I am always worried that the weight will come back. "I feel so much happier. When I look back at myself, I just can't believe I was that size. "When I look back at old photos, I feel very sad about what happened to me, but it makes me think that I need to be proud about how far I have come."

Scottish Sun

11 hours ago

• Scottish Sun

I have got metal hip replacements but feel weaker since having an MRI - help!

Got a health-related problem? Send it to Zoe, email below ASK DR ZOE I have got metal hip replacements but feel weaker and in more pain since having an MRI – help! Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) OUR resident specialist and NHS GP, Dr Zoe Williams, shares her expert advice. Today, Dr Zoe helps a reader who is worried an MRI might have affected their hip. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Dr Zoe Williams helps Sun readers with their health concerns Credit: Olivia West 2 A reader who has metal hip replacements is worried an MRI might have affected it Credit: Getty Q) I HAVE got metal hip replacements with the oldest from 2003. Two years ago, I began to experience pain. I finally found a painkiller that helped and have been on it since. I had X-rays that showed damage and was told to be careful because there was a chance I could suffer a fracture. I was sent for an MRI and a friend warned that maybe it could aggravate my pain. Since having the scan, my hip is more painful and feels weaker. Lying still for so long was very uncomfortable, but could the MRI have affected my hip? Can an MRI aggravate the problem it is scanning? A) AN MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images. Modern hip implants are typically made of materials like titanium, cobalt-chromium or stainless steel, which are non-ferromagnetic, meaning they don't react strongly to magnetic fields. So having an MRI will not worsen the joint physically, but lying still for 30-45 minutes can aggravate pain. Patients can feel sore and stiff afterwards, but this should be temporary as the cause is the positioning for the scan rather than the scan itself. My advice to anyone having an MRI is to always ask the staff to make you as comfortable as possible before going into the scanner. Janet Street Porter says she's leaving Loose Women for a bit to have hip replacement TIP: While we're enjoying the hot weather, it can be dangerous for some. Keep an eye on older relatives and those with long-term health conditions as they can be at higher risk of heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke.