Anabella Gyasi, a 38-year-old Ghanaian woman, and her 4-year-old son were detained for 10 days in a windowless room at Dulles International Airport, with Gyasi, who is more than four months pregnant, facing deportation to Ghana despite seeking medical care for her son’s disabilities. The situation escalated after a federal court ordered their release on May 30, 2026, following repeated legal challenges from the ACLU of Virginia.
Legal Battle Over Detention
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia filed an emergency petition on behalf of Gyasi, who arrived at Dulles on May 19 with her son, G.O.O., on tourist visas to seek medical treatment for his hand disabilities. According to the ACLU, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detained the pair after Gyasi expressed fear of persecution in Ghana due to her son’s disability. “Ms. Gyasi legally traveled to the U.S. to get necessary medical care for her son, but the illegal detention and inhumane treatment that she’s experiencing at Dulles is endangering her son’s health as well as her own,” said Sophia Gregg, a senior immigrants’ rights attorney at the ACLU of Virginia.
CBP officials, however, disputed the claims. The Department of Homeland Security stated, “Everyone in CBP custody, including this individual, has access to appropriate care, including medical evaluation by a doctor, medication, and food.” The agency alleged Gyasi had admitted under oath that she intended to seek asylum and remain in the U.S., justifying her expedited removal. This contradiction between Gyasi’s legal team and CBP highlights the contentious nature of her case.
Lawyers for Gyasi argued that she had followed all procedures, including securing valid tourist visas that expire in April 2028. “Ms. Gyasi is following all the rules she was given – but CBP is not,” said Dorna Maryam Movasseghi, an ACLU-VA attorney. The legal team emphasized that Gyasi’s detention violated due process, as she was denied medical screenings and basic necessities like food for extended periods.
Court Intervenes to Free Family
A federal judge, Leonie Brinkema, intervened after Gyasi’s health deteriorated. The court ordered that she and her son “are not to spend another night in Dulles Airport,” citing the “dangerous and unlawful detention practices” linked to the Trump administration’s policies. “Ms. Gyasi’s health and the viability of her pregnancy have both been endangered for more than a week,” said Mary Bauer, executive director of the ACLU of Virginia. The ruling came after Gyasi was hospitalized twice for pregnancy complications, including vaginal bleeding and lightheadedness, but was returned to the detention room each time.
During her detention, Gyasi repeatedly requested food for herself and her son, who cried from hunger. She eventually signed a deportation order, only to be told she could access food and a shower afterward. “Because of her concern for her unborn child, Ms. Gyasi told the officers she would prefer to be deported than denied food,” the ACLU reported. This incident underscores the coercive conditions faced by detained immigrants, as described by Eden Heilman, legal director for the ACLU of Virginia: “They are now seeking to remove her, but again at this point, we don’t know when, and in the interim she is literally sitting in this room without access to care.”
Conditions in Detention Room
The windowless holding room where Gyasi and her son were confined had a single bed, toilet, and sink. They received no medical evaluations upon detention, despite Gyasi’s pregnancy and her son’s disabilities. Hospital staff who treated her during two brief visits expressed concern about her nutrition and stress levels, but she was discharged and returned to the airport. “She is just one of a number of pregnant people who’ve been detained in shocking numbers in the wake of President Trump’s executive order trying to end birthright citizenship – and it has to stop,” Gregg said.
The ACLU’s report detailed the psychological toll on Gyasi, who feared for her son’s safety and her own health. “Ms. Gyasi’s health and the viability of her pregnancy have both been endangered for more than a week,” Bauer added. The court’s intervention on May 30 marked the end of her 10-day detention, but the case raises broader questions about the treatment of asylum seekers and the enforcement of immigration policies.
Political Context of Deportation Policies
Gyasi’s case is part of a larger pattern of heightened scrutiny for immigrants following President Trump’s 2024 executive order targeting birthright citizenship. The policy has led to increased detentions of pregnant individuals and families with disabilities, according to the ACLU. “She is just one of a number of pregnant people who’ve been detained in shocking numbers in the wake of President Trump’s executive order trying to end birthright citizenship – and it has to stop,” Gregg said.
The Department of Homeland Security has faced criticism for its handling of such cases. A 2024 study by the Migration Policy Institute found that 68% of detained pregnant individuals reported inadequate medical care, with many experiencing complications due to delayed treatment. Gyasi’s case aligns with these findings, highlighting systemic failures in immigration detention facilities.
Advocates argue that the Trump administration’s policies disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. “The court ordered in no uncertain terms that Ms. Gyasi and her son are not to spend another night in Dulles Airport,” Bauer said. “This case is a stark reminder of the human cost of these policies.”
What’s Next for Gyasi and Her Son?
While the court’s order secured Gyasi’s release, the long-term implications of her detention remain unclear. CBP has not provided a timeline for her deportation, and her legal team is preparing to challenge the agency’s actions. “We will continue to fight for Ms.
