Pregnant Ghanaian Woman, Young Son Held at U.S. Airport as Legal Battle Over Detention Intensifies
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A pregnant Ghanaian national and her four-year-old son have spent more than a week in the custody of U.S. immigration authorities after arriving at Washington Dulles International Airport, sparking a legal challenge from civil rights advocates.
The woman, identified as 38-year-old Anabella Gyasi, entered the United States with her son on valid tourist visas on May 19. According to court filings, she had travelled to the country to seek medical treatment for her child, who reportedly has a congenital condition affecting both hands.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a habeas corpus petition contesting the pair’s continued detention. The organization argues that keeping a pregnant woman and a young child in airport holding facilities violates long-established federal policies that prioritize the release of vulnerable individuals.
Legal documents indicate that Gyasi previously visited the United States with her son in 2024 for medical consultations. At the time, doctors reportedly advised that the child was too young for corrective surgery. She later secured a follow-up appointment at a children's hospital in Ohio and returned to the U.S. for further treatment.
According to the petition, difficulties arose during immigration processing when Gyasi reportedly expressed concerns about returning to Ghana due to alleged persecution involving herself and her son. Following the interview, both were placed in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody.
The ACLU alleges that the mother and child have since been confined to a secured room within the airport, describing the facility as unsuitable for prolonged detention. The organization further claims that Gyasi has experienced health complications during her confinement, including stress-related pregnancy concerns that required hospital treatment.
Court filings also allege that she struggled to obtain adequate food for herself and her son while in custody. Lawyers representing Gyasi say the difficult conditions eventually led her to sign deportation paperwork, although they maintain that she did so under pressure and did not intend to abandon her asylum claim.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has rejected allegations of mistreatment, stating that individuals in CBP custody are provided with food, medical care, and necessary support services. The agency also disputed descriptions of the detention conditions presented in court documents.
Meanwhile, a federal judge has ordered the U.S. government to justify the legal basis for the continued detention of Gyasi and her son. The court warned that if authorities fail to demonstrate lawful grounds for holding them, the pair could be released to continue pursuing the child’s planned medical treatment.
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