A 4-year-old girl with a life-threatening medical condition could die if she gets deported, according to her doctors at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
The child and her family arrived from Mexico in 2023 after she was granted temporary humanitarian permission, the family’s attorney confirmed.
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WATCH HERENow, the Trump administration ordered the child and her family to self-deport.
The young girl, who goes by the name of Sofia, is living with short bowel syndrome and receives care in the U.S. for her illness.
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SIGN UP According to Jean Amado, the directing attorney of the Immigrants Rights Project at Public Council, the child's condition prevents her from being able to take in and process nutrients on her own.
She requires very specialized medical care that requires her to undergo IV treatments 14 hours a day in her home. Sofia’s condition is severe and requires her to receive treatment every six weeks, according to the family.
During a press conference on Wednesday, attorneys representing the family said that Sofia's treatment cannot be administered outside of the United States, so it's imperative that she remains here.
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"Deporting this family under these conditions is not only unlawful, it constitutes a moral failure that violates the basic tenets of humanity and decency," Amado said.
On April 11, Sofia's mother received a notice from immigration authorities letting her know that their humanitarian parole would be revoked and that the work permits of the parents would be canceled, Amado said.
"They received a subsequent notice weeks later, and a third notice in May, verifying that they are no longer in lawful status and are now vulnerable to deportation. The notices also ordered the family to leave the United States immediately," Amado said.
The family's attorney's said that if the child is deported and removed from accessing her specialized medical care, her doctors have been clear that she will die within days.
Short bowel syndrome occurs when a portion of the small intestine is unable to function well or is missing and could lead to nutrient deficiencies, malnutrition and weight loss.
While Sofia's condition has improved, she cannot live independently without that treatment, Amado said.
Rebecca Brown, Sofia's lawyer, said that the child's mother did "everything she was asked to do to save her child's life. She applied to enter the United States to get better treatment for her daughter, and waited until that application was granted before coming here."
She added that all that the mother wants is for her child to continue to receive the amazing care that Sofia is getting at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
