A pregnant Venezuelan woman who was detained after a routine check-in at the Dallas ICE Field Office is asking to be released over concerns for her health.
Darisbell Paola Quintero Morillo has been detained at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado for the last three weeks. She didn鈥檛 know she was pregnant until she underwent a medical evaluation there.
鈥淚 haven't seen a doctor since the exam,鈥� she told 四虎影院 in Spanish during a phone interview. 鈥淭hey just did some bloodwork, and I didn't hear anything else from them.鈥�
This is Quintero鈥檚 first pregnancy. She and her husband, Gilbert Vicent, entered the U.S. in April 2021, fleeing political persecution in Venezuela. They both have pending asylum cases.
Quintero鈥檚 attorney Oscar Mendoza called her detainment 鈥渢roubling.鈥� He said despite being compliant with immigration requirements, Quintero was detained while attending an ICE check-in appointment.
"She's been doing everything correctly, attending her hearings, applying for asylum, and she's been reporting to ICE as she's supposed to,鈥� Mendoza told 四虎影院. "And they detained her anyway, regardless of that, regardless that she's been fulfilling her duties to report.鈥�
Quintero said she is worried about her pregnancy due to the poor quality of food and lack of nutrition. She鈥檚 lost weight and said she isn鈥檛 sleeping well.
鈥淭he conditions here are not great, but the worst part is the food,鈥� Quintero said. "I鈥檝e said that this food is not sufficient for any person, and certainly not for me, who is pregnant.... They don鈥檛 even add fruit to the plate."
She supplements her diet with tuna fish she buys from the commissary for extra protein.
Quintero said she鈥檚 not the only pregnant woman in Prairieland, and not everyone has family members to add money to their commissary. She said it鈥檚 caused tension and frustration inside the facility.
鈥淭hey are hungry because we eat dinner at 4 p.m. and then we don鈥檛 eat again until early in the morning,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen we go to eat, they rush us. It's only like five minutes. And we don't eat well because we rush.
鈥淚t's crazy. They treat us like animals,鈥� Quintero said.
She said she鈥檚 yet to see a doctor but is given supplements inside the facility.
In a statement to 四虎影院, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson said Quintero "was discovered to be pregnant upon intake and has received care from facility medical staff, including seeing a nurse practitioner March 29. She is scheduled to see the facility doctor April 27 and has an OBGYN appointment scheduled for May 12."
The statement also said pregnancy in ICE detention is exceedingly rare and "pregnant women receive regular prenatal visits, mental health services, nutritional support, and accommodations aligned with community standards of care."
Mendoza, Quintero鈥檚 attorney, said ICE has the power to release her through 鈥減arole authority,鈥� but attorneys for the government have declined to release her.
鈥淓ven though there's a rule in the books that says that pregnant people should be given special consideration,鈥� Mendoza said.
He said Quintero does not have a criminal record and isn鈥檛 a flight risk. 鈥淭hey're doing a great injustice,鈥� he said.
Mendoza filed a petition in federal court as well as an emergency motion to get a quicker decision, but the judge denied the motion. He said the government has until June to respond to the petition.
鈥淭he case raises serious concerns regarding the treatment of pregnant detainees, the disregard of established parole guidance, and the broader due process implications of prolonged detention while habeas relief is pending,鈥� Mendoza said.
For Vicent, the biggest concern is the wellbeing of his pregnant wife.
鈥淢y wife doesn't rest well, and besides that, they don鈥檛 respond on time, which is why a lot of women die,鈥� Vicent told 四虎影院. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 my fear, that my child will die inside there. It鈥檚 something that she鈥檚 going through and they see that, but they don鈥檛 want to do anything there.鈥�
He said they came to the U.S. because it was the 鈥渓and of opportunities.鈥� He owns various barber shops in North Texas and he and his wife are homeowners. He鈥檚 worried about their future here.
鈥淚f my wife leaves, I will leave too,鈥� he said.
Priscilla Rice is 四虎影院鈥檚 communities reporter. Got a tip? Email her at price@kera.org.
四虎影院 is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider . Thank you.
