Annabella Gyasi, a 38-year-old pregnant woman from Ghana, and her 4-year-old son arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport on May 19 holding valid travel visas [1]. Gyasi sought asylum upon arrival, citing persecution in Ghana, which led to their immediate detention by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) [1, 2].

They were held for 10 days in a windowless room at the airport detention center [1]. During this time, Gyasi suffered pregnancy complications including vaginal bleeding and high blood pressure, requiring two emergency hospitalizations [1, 2]. Doctors and lawyers reported that Gyasi and her son endured inadequate food and high stress levels while detained [1, 2].

Sophia Gregg, senior immigrants’ rights attorney at the ACLU of Virginia, which represented Gyasi, said, "Ms. Gyasi legally traveled to the US 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" [2]. The ACLU criticized the detention conditions and linked them to enforcement measures under the revoked Trump-era birthright citizenship policies targeting pregnant detainees [1].

Despite these claims, the Department of Homeland Security denied mistreatment allegations, stating, "These allegations are false. Everyone in CBP custody, including this individual, has access to appropriate care, including medical evaluation, medicine, and food" [1, 2].

On May 29, a federal judge in Virginia ordered their release and immediate deportation. Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled, "允許申請人立即返回家園，是最符合申請人福祉和司法公正的做法," emphasizing that allowing their return home best served their welfare and justice [1].

Gyasi reportedly signed deportation papers out of fear for her unborn child's health and in desperation for better care and food [2]. Based on a US-Ghana agreement, Ghana agreed to accept deported migrants, including those forcibly returned by the US [1].

Gyasi and her son were deported back to Ghana on the same day, concluding their 10-day detention episode at the airport [1].