Senators Demand Answers on Treatment of Pregnant Women in ICE Custody

Strategic Insights -

U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper recently joined 28 of his Senate Democratic colleagues to call on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to stop Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from detaining pregnant women, absent exceptional circumstances, and provide clear information about the number of pregnant women in its custody and their treatment in ICE detention. The letter was prompted by the Trump administration's decision to stop providing reports to Congress on the number of pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women in their custody.

Key Takeaways:

  • A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study published in 2020 found that between 2016 and 2018, ICE detained pregnant women over 4,600 times. As Congress increased its oversight into the detention of pregnant women, that number dropped to just 158 pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women detained in the first half of fiscal year 2024.
  • The Trump administration failed to release data for 2025, making it difficult for the public and Congress to understand the treatment and numbers of pregnant women in ICE custody.
  • Senator Hickenlooper has introduced the Immigration Enforcement Identification Act to increase transparency, accountability, and safety in immigration law enforcement, which includes a provision to prohibit law enforcement officers from obscuring their faces and requires that they clearly display their agency, name, and a unique identifier while conducting immigration enforcement functions.
  • The senators also expressed concern about the recent reporting on 911 calls recorded from ICE facilities involving pregnant women in "distress, bleeding or suffering severe pain" and a recent Senate oversight visit to the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center that found 14 pregnant women detained at the time of the visit, with many of them receiving little to no medical care.
  • The letter includes 12 specific questions regarding the treatment and conditions of pregnant women in ICE custody, from the number of pregnant women in custody to the criteria for determining if a facility is suitable for pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women.

Statistics:

  • Between 2016 and 2018, ICE detained pregnant women over 4,600 times. (GAO study, 2020)
  • The number of pregnant women detained dropped to 158 in the first half of fiscal year 2024. (GAO study, 2020)
  • Since January 2025, at least four 911 calls have been recorded from ICE detention facilities involving pregnant women in "distress, bleeding or suffering severe pain".
  • 14 pregnant women were detained at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center during a recent Senate Judiciary Committee staff visit.
  • Between January 1, 2025 to the date of receipt of the letter, at least 4,600 pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women have been detained in ICE facilities.

Sources:

  • Government Accountability Office (GAO) study, 2020
  • Senate Judiciary Committee staff visit report, 2025
  • Letter from 28 Senate Democratic colleagues to Secretary Kristi Noem, 2025
  • Immigration Enforcement Identification Act ( Introduced by Senator Hickenlooper)