A pregnant Ghanaian woman and her young son who spent more than a week in detention at Washington Dulles International Airport were being deported to Ghana on Friday after she agreed to leave the United States, her lawyers said.
Annabella Gyasi, 38, arrived at the airport on 19 May with her son, who was born with severely malformed hands, according to court documents filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia.
The pair were travelling on valid visas and had planned to attend a medical appointment for the child, the filing said.
Lawyers said Gyasi told immigration officials she feared persecution if returned to Ghana and sought protection in the United States. She and her son were subsequently detained at the airport.
According to the ACLU, the mother and child were held in a windowless room for more than a week. During the detention, Gyasi was twice hospitalized with pregnancy-related complications, including vaginal bleeding and high blood pressure.
Her lawyers said she ultimately agreed to return to Ghana after concluding she had no alternative.
“While we’re relieved that Ms. Gyasi and her son will soon be free from this nightmare, no one should be subjected to the inhumane conditions they endured,” ACLU Virginia Executive Director Mary Bauer said in a statement.
The Department of Homeland Security rejected allegations of mistreatment, saying individuals in custody have access to medical care, medication and food.
A federal judge, Leonie Brinkema, ruled on Friday that “the welfare of the petitioners and the interests of justice are best served by allowing petitioners to return home immediately.”
In an earlier court order, Brinkema cited immigration officials as saying Gyasi’s tourist visas were no longer valid because she had indicated she intended to seek asylum and did not plan to return to Ghana.
Gyasi and her son were scheduled to depart for Ghana on Friday evening.
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