Pro-Life Leaders Unite to Oppose ICE Detention of Pregnant, Postpartum and Nursing Mothers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 13, 2026

Washington, DC — A coalition of more than 30 pro-life organizations and thought leaders is calling on the Trump administration to reinstate federal protections preventing the detention of pregnant, postpartum and nursing women in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.

In an open letter to President Trump, Secretary Noem and Acting ICE Director Lyons, the coalition argues that immigration policy does not require putting unborn children and their mothers at risk by keeping them in detention centers.

When similar protections were rescinded in 2017, ICE reported a 52% increase in the detention of pregnant women. During that period, multiple miscarriages and stillbirths were documented in detention facilities. 

Lauren Handy, a prominent pro-life activist recently pardoned by President Trump after serving time in federal custody, is now urging his administration to change course based on what she witnessed behind bars:

"As a formerly incarcerated individual, I saw multiple examples of the mistreatment of pregnant people. The quality and amount of food was never enough for a parent and growing child. In Flint, Michigan, a pregnant mother reported bleeding and the guards did not get her medical treatment. There are genuine concerns that detention centers will lead to miscarriages, stillbirths and coerced abortions."

The letter has been signed by organizations including Rehumanize International, Secular Pro-Life, Pro-Life Action League, Abortion Survivors Network, and Democrats for Life, as well as former Congressman Dan Lipinski and bioethicist Dr. Charlie Camosy.

Secular Pro-Life's Herb Geraghty said, "For those of us who claim to value unborn children and their mothers, we cannot ignore policies that foreseeably endanger them in government custody. Keeping pregnant women out of ICE detention should be common ground for pro-lifers, reproductive justice activists, immigration and criminal justice reform advocates, as well as anyone concerned about basic human dignity."

The coalition is urging ICE to restore a presumption of release for pregnant, postpartum and nursing women except in extraordinary circumstances.

"Detaining pregnant and nursing women is not a necessary feature of immigration policy. Reinstating protections for pregnant, postpartum and nursing women reflects sound medical judgment and responsible governance,” the letter states.

"An administration that claims to be the most pro-life in history cannot ignore the preventable deaths happening in facilities under its control. If we're serious about protecting life, that commitment must extend to detention centers,” said Lauren Pope, Executive Director of Rehumanize International. 

The full letter and list of signatories is available at https://www.rehumanizeintl.org/post/protect-immigrant-mothers.

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Media Contact: Lauren Pope Executive Director, Rehumanize International execdirector@rehumanizeintl.org 817-681-8611