A 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy is facing deportation after undergoing gallbladder surgery when her immigration status was discovered on her way to hospital.
Rosamaria Hernandez was on her way from the border city of Laredo, Texas, to hospital in Corpus Christi in an ambulance when the vehicle was stopped on Highway 59 in Freer, as part of routine Border Patrol check.
It was discovered that despite living in the United States since arriving from Mexico when she was three months old, she had undocumented status.
Border Patrol agents then escorted the ambulance to hospital, with Rosamaria accompanied by a relative who is a U.S citizen.
According to Rosamaria’s mother, Felipa Delacruz, who also lacks legal immigration status, federal agents waited outside her daughter’s hospital room as she recovered from surgery.
Rosamaria Hernandez recuperating in hospital after emergency surgery on her gallbladder. Her ambulance was stopped at a Border Patrol check and she was escorted to hospital
After surgery, federal agents refused to release her back to her family and deportation proceedings were begun against Rosemaria.
She has now been taken to a children’s shelter in San Antonio to recuperate while her case is processed.
The family’s lawyer Alex Galvez said the girl’s hospital discharge says she needs to visit the family doctor in Laredo for follow-up checks.
In a statement issued to Corpus Christ Caller Times Customs and Border Protection spokesman Rod Kise said no exception to enforcing immigration law will be made in Rosamaria’s case.
‘Per the immigration laws of the United States, once medically cleared she will be processed accordingly. The Mexican Consulate has been advised of the situation by Laredo Sector Border Patrol.’
Rosamaria has been living in the U.S since she was three months old. Moves have now begun to deport her and she is being cared for in a children’s shelter
But Senator Juan ‘Chuy’ Hinojosa told the paper: ‘The situation with Rosamaria Hernandez is not uncommon in South Texas or along the Texas-Mexico border.
‘What is uncommon, is the Border Patrol or Immigration Customs Enforcement taking such an interest in a case involving a 10-year-old girl requiring immediate medical attention.
‘While there is no doubt that we are a country of laws that must be followed, we are also a country with compassion. We have situations where certain discretions must be allowed to protect the rights of a human being.
‘Border Patrol’s time would be better spent if they focused their resources on drug traffickers and human smuggling. Thank you to Driscoll Children’s Hospital for taking care of a sick child in critical need.’
Advocacy group dreamactivist.org have now begun a petition for Rosamaria to be released.