Woman in ICE custody diagnosed with pituitary tumor

A woman taken from a hospital to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center last week was diagnosed Tuesday with a “pituitary brain tumor,” Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) reported.

Sara Beltran Hernandez, 26, was taken from Huguley Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, to Prairieland Detention Center against her will last week, prompting her family, lawyers and activists to petition for her release.

{mosads}Beltrán complained of severe pain, nosebleeds and long-term memory loss.

Despite her condition, she was restrained after arriving at Prairieland, her lawyers said.

At the time, her lawyers also said she had a brain tumor and might need surgery, but ICE was unable to confirm her condition due to privacy laws preventing law enforcement from sharing an inmate’s medical records.

Beltran’s family and lawyers requested an examination by a neurosurgeon, who

determined she does not need surgery at this point, AIUSA said.

“Sara’s recommended plan of care includes follow-up MRI scans with a qualified neurosurgeon or neurologist approximately every six weeks in order to monitor the size of the tumor, as well as ongoing surveillance for changes in her symptoms,” AIUSA said in a statement.

According to AIUSA, Beltran was shackled and under guard during her examination. An interpreter was provided upon request by the clinic.

Beltran is a Salvadoran national and her family lives in New Jersey.

AIUSA requested a humanitarian release to move Beltran to her family’s care.

“It is critical that Sara be released from detention so she can get the high level of care she needs with her family in New York,” said Eric Ferrero, an AIUSA spokesman. 

“She poses no threat, has family that can provide for her, and has been stuck in detention long enough. With this prognosis, any attempt to keep her in detention would be cruel and inhumane.”