Detained Mother, Children Face ‘Criminal Abuse,’ Attorney Warns

Urgent Plea for Family’s Release Amid Health Crisis

An immigration attorney is sounding the alarm over the dire situation of a detained mother and her five children, calling their prolonged confinement and lack of adequate medical care “verging on criminal abuse.” The El Gamal family has been held at the Dilley detention center for over 10 months, a period attorney Eric Lee describes as a “desperate and life-threatening” ordeal. The mother, Chaim El Gamal, has suffered severe pain and a range of alarming symptoms, yet has been consistently denied necessary diagnostic tests and specialized medical attention.

Escalating Medical Crisis Ignored

Last Friday, after weeks of pleas for help, Chaim El Gamal nearly collapsed due to excruciating pain. She was eventually taken to an emergency room, where she reported feeling as though she was being “stabbed in the back through the stomach.” Subsequent medical evaluations revealed fluid around her heart, a serious facial rash requiring urgent dermatological care, and ongoing difficulty sleeping with constant headaches. Despite these critical findings, ICE has reportedly denied her access to further diagnostic tests recommended by medical experts.

A medical expert, in a sworn declaration to a federal court, stated that Ms. El Gamal has “suffered and continues to suffer at the hands of negligent staff at the Dilley facility.” The expert warned that their inaction places her life at risk in a “very tangible way.” The family has been denied adequate medical attention and diagnostic care since her emergency room visit, a situation Lee characterizes as a “deliberate attempt to cause this young mother harm.”

Systematic Denial of Care

When pressed for details on healthcare access, attorney Eric Lee reported receiving “nothing at all” from ICE officials. He detailed how his client, after returning from the ER, begged for an ultrasound to understand the nature of a chest mass, but was denied by ICE. A request for a rheumatologist due to concerns about lupus and a cardiologist for the fluid near her heart have also been met with inaction.

Lee emphasized that this is not mere negligence or a systemic problem, but a deliberate choice by powerful officials. He stated, “This is the White House and some of the most powerful adults in the country, deliberately causing harm to this mother and her children who all have medical issues of their own.” The family has been found innocent of any wrongdoing by the FBI and an immigration judge, making their continued detention and suffering all the more egregious.

Family Separation Tactics and Threats

Adding to the family’s distress, the daughter, Habiba Soliman, spoke to CBS Colorado about the conditions of confinement. Shortly after her interview, ICE headquarters reportedly called the Dilley facility and demanded that she be separated from her family. Officials are allegedly threatening to move the daughter 300 miles away if the family continues to speak out about their treatment and medical needs.

Despite consistent requests for medical attention for what could be a life-threatening condition, possibly cancer, the family has been given ibuprofen for stomach issues. According to another medical expert, this medication could actually worsen a stomach ulcer, potentially causing it to rupture. This highlights a pattern of inadequate and potentially harmful medical responses.

Call for Immediate Release and Action

Attorney Lee has taken these concerns to high levels, including the Senate Judiciary Committee, presenting letters and drawings from the children detailing their need for help. While he acknowledges some attention has been drawn to the case due to the medical emergency, he stresses that the “push needs to grow stronger.” Many offices contacted have not yet called for the family’s release.

Lee made a direct appeal to the public and anyone in a position of authority: “Please, for the love of God, do the right thing. This family has suffered enough.” He described the 10-month detention, coupled with denied medical care, as “verging on criminal abuse.” He urged immediate action before a tragedy occurs, stating, “This is an urgent life or death situation. Stand up and demand this family’s immediate release before something terrible happens.”

Broader Implications and Future Concerns

The case of the El Gamal family raises serious questions about the treatment of asylum seekers and detained individuals within the U.S. immigration system. The prolonged detention of children for crimes committed by their parents, especially when coupled with severe medical neglect, challenges fundamental principles of justice and human rights. The alleged use of family separation as a tactic to silence complaints is particularly disturbing.

As the family’s situation remains critical, the focus shifts to whether government officials and the public will respond to the urgent calls for their release. The potential for a tragic outcome looms large, prompting a demand for immediate intervention and a review of detention and healthcare policies within facilities like Dilley. The coming days will be crucial in determining the fate of the El Gamal family.

Source: ‘Verging on criminal abuse’: Attorney calls for urgent release of detained mother, children  (YouTube)