Lawmakers are raising alarms over the Trump administration’s decision to revoke humanitarian protections for a 4-year-old girl facing deportation from the United States. The girl, identified as S.G.V., is currently receiving critical medical treatment for short bowel syndrome, a rare condition that severely limits her ability to absorb nutrients.
S.G.V. and her parents entered the U.S. through Tijuana in 2023, granted temporary permission to seek life-saving medical care. However, last month, they received notice from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that their legal status had been terminated. This notice warned them to leave the country immediately, putting the girl at serious risk of death if her treatment is interrupted.
In response, 38 congressional Democrats, including prominent California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. They urged her to reconsider the family’s situation, emphasizing the need to protect vulnerable individuals like S.G.V. “It is our duty to protect the sick, vulnerable, and defenseless,” they stated.
Doctors have warned that any interruption in S.G.V.’s daily nutrition regimen could be fatal within days. Her physician, Dr. John Arsenault from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, highlighted the urgency of her situation in a letter to the family.
The family’s plight has drawn significant public attention, with an online fundraiser raising nearly $26,000 to support S.G.V.’s medical needs. Advocates and lawmakers are calling for immediate action, stressing that without intervention from the federal government, the girl could die shortly after being deported.
Tricia McLaughlin, a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security, stated that the family is not currently in the deportation process and their application for humanitarian protections is still under review.
Deysi Vargas, S.G.V.’s mother, expressed her fears during a recent news conference, stating, “If they deport us and they take away my daughter’s access to specialized medical care, she will die.”
The situation has sparked outrage among lawmakers and advocates alike, many of whom argue that the current immigration policies are disproportionately affecting children in need of medical care. They contend that this case illustrates a broader pattern of cruelty in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
As the family awaits further developments, the urgency of the situation continues to resonate, with many emphasizing the moral obligation to provide care and protection for those in dire need.