A 4-year-old Mexican girl who is receiving life-saving treatment at a hospital in Southern California has been granted temporary permission to stay in the United States. This decision comes after federal authorities had previously indicated they might deport her.
According to a copy of a letter received by lawyer Rebecca Brown from the public interest law firm Public Counsel, the Department of Homeland Security has approved a one-year humanitarian parole for the girl and her mother to continue receiving treatment that she has been undergoing since arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2023.
The girl’s family had been informed in April and May that their humanitarian parole was being revoked by federal authorities, raising the possibility of deportation.
The Trump administration has been working to dismantle immigration policies put in place during the Biden presidency, which provided temporary legal status for certain immigrants, allowing them to reside legally in the U.S., typically for a duration of two years.
Upon arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border with her mother in 2023, the girl was hospitalized due to her medical condition. She suffers from short bowel syndrome, which impairs her ability to digest and absorb nutrients, requiring daily intravenous nutrition through a specialized backpack. Lawyers representing her emphasized that this treatment is crucial for her current survival, but it is not accessible in Mexico.
Rebecca Brown, who is representing the girl’s family through Public Counsel, expressed gratitude in a statement on Tuesday for the government’s swift action in ensuring the girl can continue to receive life-saving treatment. Brown hopes this case highlights the importance of improved communication with federal immigration officials.
The girl’s mother mentioned that in Mexico, her child was mostly confined to the hospital due to her health condition. However, since participating in a program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, she is now able to receive treatment at her home in Bakersfield, California, and engage in activities like going to the park and stores like other children.
Lawyers stated that the girl requires 14 hours of intravenous nutrition therapy daily for her treatment, which, although not indefinitely necessary, is currently vital for her survival.