ICE Detains Gresham Family Outside Portland ER as 7-Year-Old Needs Emergency Care
Federal immigration agents detained a Gresham family outside a Portland hospital last week as the parents sought emergency care for their 7-year-old daughter, according to multiple news outlets.
The incident highlights mounting tension over immigration enforcement near sensitive community locations such as hospitals.
On Jan. 15-16, Yohendry De Jesus Crespo and his wife, Darianny Liseth Gonzalez De Crespo, drove their daughter, Diana, to Adventist Health Portland in Southeast Portland because of a severe nosebleed and hoped to get urgent treatment. Before they could enter the emergency department, federal agents surrounded their vehicle in the parking lot and took the family into custody, family friends told reporters.
The parents and child were transferred first to a processing facility near Tacoma, Washington, and later flown to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, where they remain in ICE custody while their asylum claim continues.
Portland Adventist Health stated it was not contacted or coordinated with enforcement about the detainment and emphasized its commitment to community care.
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State Representative Ricki Ruiz of Oregon urged federal agencies to respect sensitive locations and prioritize the child’s well-being, saying, “Situations involving children require heightened care, compassion, and coordination.”
Advocates have raised concerns about access to medical care for children in ICE detention, especially after reports that Diana experienced fever and delays in care while in custody.
What happens next is unclear…
Lawyers are reportedly preparing to challenge the family’s detention, and health and legal advocates continue pushing for immediate medical attention and due process for the Crespo family.
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