Key facts
- Lawmakers demand ICE disclose data on miscarriages and pregnancy-related hospitalizations of detained immigrants.
- ICE has no data on miscarriages after October 3, 2025, due to a change in medical billing providers.
- A DHS spokesperson confirmed the agency lacks miscarriage data from October 2025 through June 2026.
- Lawmakers gave ICE until November 6 to respond to their data request.
US lawmakers are demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) disclose data on miscarriages and pregnancy-related hospitalizations among detained immigrants, following a Guardian investigation that revealed the agency lost track of such information last year. In a letter to ICE’s acting director, David Venturella, Democratic representatives Brittany Pettersen, Joyce Beatty and Robin Kelly also asked the agency to explain steps taken to recover missing data and clarify the grounds for detaining pregnant immigrants. The lawmakers cited a 2021 directive instructing ICE to avoid detaining pregnant individuals unless prohibited by law or exceptional circumstances exist. ICE stated in internal documents that it had no data on miscarriages after October 3, 2025, due to a change in medical billing providers. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed the agency lacks miscarriage data from October 2025 through June 2026, while denying claims of subprime care for pregnant detainees. The lawmakers gave the agency until November 6 to respond to their request.