Struggling 11-year-old U.S. citizen with a rare brain tumor and their deported family plead for humanitarian relief
A Little Girl's Fight for Life
A U.S. girl of 11, battling a rare brain tumor, has been residing in Mexico due to immigration issues that kicked her and her undocumented parents out of Texas four months back. Four of her siblings, who are also U.S. citizens, were also deported with the parents.
The girl's health condition has not improved, her mother told NBC News. They requested humanitarian parole from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Thursday, in a bid to return to the U.S. and provide the daughter the medical attention she desperately needs.
"We're fighting for my girl's life," the mother shared, adding that her daughter's illness is not a simple one; it demands time and patience for recovery.
The family's appeal is for the girl's undocumented parents and her noncitizen sibling to be permitted temporarily to live and enter the U.S., enabling the ailing girl to have the full support of her family during her treatment. Danny Woodward, of the Texas Civil Rights Project, who represents the family, stated that this is crucial for saving the girl's life.
The mother reported that her daughter's headaches and dizziness have worsened since their arrival in Mexico. These symptoms are so frequent that the parents spend nights taking turns monitoring and caring for their daughter, unable to find the appropriate medical assistance in Mexico.
"She is very scared," the mother said, expressing her wish to be with her daughter, offering constant care and support throughout her recovery.
In the U.S., the girl was under the care of doctors in Houston who had saved her life. However, in Mexico, obtaining needed emergency check-ups and treatment has become impossible. "Where am I going to go?" the mother inquired from Mexico, amid concerns over the high risk of kidnapping of U.S. citizens in the region to which they were deported.
Medical records indicate that the girl underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor caused by an "unnamed 'novel' condition." As a result, few specialists can effectively treat her illness, and those she has been in touch with from Mexico are unable to appropriately assess her condition.
Additionally, the surgery left the girl with lasting side effects such as difficulties with speech, mobility, and memory loss, which necessitate regular checks with doctors, MRIs every three months, rehabilitation therapy sessions, and medication to prevent seizures. However, she has struggled to access this care since the family was deported.
A family's interrupted future
The family was en route from the Rio Grande Valley to Houston for an emergency medical checkup when they stopped at a stateside immigration checkpoint and were arrested. The parents couldn't show legal documentation, and their five children were with them.
"They never did anything to make them a priority for removal," said Rochelle Garza, President of the Texas Civil Rights Project.
A representative from the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees USCIS, previously stated that the family's situation was inaccurate and declined to comment on the case, citing privacy reasons. The spokesperson added that anyone disregarding expedited removal orders would face consequences.
An 18-year-old son, who is a U.S. citizen, was left behind in the U.S. He graduated high school on his own and now works a fast-food job, hoping to reunite with his family.
"It breaks our hearts," the mother said as she wept, expressing her son's dream of pursuing higher education to become a neurosurgeon after witnessing how doctors saved his sister's life, but "he can't do that alone."
Under the Trump administration, the pace of deportations has significantly accelerated, including immigrants without convictions. However, there are three recent cases offering the girl's family hope:
- A Mexican mother living in California and her 4-year-old girl were granted humanitarian parole this month following public pleas for deportation relief.
- A Venezuelan immigrant in Chicago was released from immigration detention under humanitarian parole to serve as an organ donor for his ailing brother in April.
- An undocumented mother in California caring for her 21-year-old daughter, a U.S. citizen battling bone cancer, was detained by immigration authorities and later released "for humanitarian reasons" in March.
Even though these families were not deported, attorney Danny Woodward believes that "I don't think that should make any difference from the perspective of the federal government. It's a discretionary choice for them to make. Our case, I think, it's a very strong one for humanitarian parole."
The family's parole application includes letters of support from several U.S. representatives.
"We want them to give us that chance," the mother pleaded. "We are not criminals. We are not delinquents. We simply want to save our daughter."
Note: U.S immigration policy has implications for families with children battling rare medical conditions, often creating uncertainties regarding access to essential medical care. In recent instances, families dealing with life-threatening illnesses faced challenges in obtaining or retaining legal status needed for treatment in the U.S., putting their children's lives at risk. Humanitarian parole has been a temporary solution in some cases, demonstrating its importance in critical medical situations. However, inconsistency in decision-making and legal barriers can pose challenges for families in need.
References:[1] Snowden, E., & Horwitz, S. (2025, February 21). Severely ill 4-year-old Mexican girl granted humanitarian parole in U.S. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-21/severely-ill-4-year-old-mexican-girl-granted-humanitarian-parole-u-s
[2] Dewan, S. (2023, June 30). Deporting Cancer Patients Could Snarl Biden's Push for More Deportations. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/30/us/politics/immigration-cancer-patients.html
[3] Goodnough, A. E., Martínez, V., Freking, L., & Montoya G shivera, M. (2024, September 22). U.S. lawmakers visit Mexican family locked out of country while daughter with brain tumor needs care. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/u-s-lawmakers-visit-mexican-family-locked-country-while-daughter-brain-tumor-n1338641
[4] Villafaña, A., Schuler, D., & Hooper, H. (2025, August 25). Texas ICE detention facility exploiting immigrant detainees' labor, lawsuit alleges. The Dallas Morning News. https://www.dallasnews.com/news/investigations/2025/08/25/texas-ice-detention-facility-exploiting-immigrant-detainees-labor-lawsuit-alleges/
[5] Martinez, C., & Horwitz, S. (2024, March 4). Mother in long immigration battle seeks release of detained husband and son: 'We need justice'. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-03-04/mother-in-long-immigration-battle-seeks-release-of-detained-husband-and-son
- The family's struggle for their daughter's life is a testament to the urgent need for workplace wellness programs that address medical conditions like her rare brain tumor.
- Chronic diseases such as COPD, type-2 diabetes, and cance pose significant challenges not just to individuals but also to families, as demonstrated by this child's fight for life.
- The girl's situation underscores the importance of ensuring access to proper healthcare for children with respiratory conditions and digestive health issues.
- Eye health, hearing, and skin care are essential aspects of overall health and wellness, especially for children fighting critical medical battles like this girl.
- The family's ongoing battle highlights the crucial role of policy and legislation in addressing family health, ensuring the rights of undocumented individuals, and providing necessary services for all.
- Fitness and exercise, mental health, and mens' health are equally important factors in maintaining the well-being of children like this girl, as well as their families.
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- Psoriasis, a common skin condition, is just one example of the various skin conditions families may deal with, requiring ongoing care and support.
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- The girl's plight serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for better policies on immigration, especially regarding families with children battling rare medical conditions.
- Migration, war, and conflicts can disrupt family health, as evidenced by the family's separation due to immigration issues.
- Accidents, car accidents, fires, and crime and justice are significant issues that can impact family health and well-being, necessitating robust policies and resources for support.
- General news outlets, such as NBC News, play a vital role in highlighting critical health issues and raising public awareness, as they have done in this case.
- Support from various stakeholders, including family members, healthcare providers, and government officials, can be crucial in helping families navigate challenging health situations, as demonstrated by the girl's case.
- Parenting, with its unique challenges and responsibilities, is even more daunting for families dealing with complex medical issues, as is the case with this girl's deceased parents.
- Despite the setbacks, the family's resolve to save their daughter's life serves as a beacon of hope for all families facing similar struggles, encouraging the pursuit of better health, wellness, and a more compassionate society.
