7 days ago
Critically Ill Girl Facing Deportation Could Die Within Days If Care Halted
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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A critically ill 4-year-old Mexican girl facing possible deportation could die if she is removed from the United States.
Deysi Vargas' daughter, identified by her initials, S.G.V., has short bowel syndrome, a rare and serious condition that impairs the body's ability to absorb nutrients from food.
The family wrote in a post on GoFundMe that without treatment, their daughter will die.
Why It Matters
The girl entered the U.S. legally on humanitarian grounds in 2023 to receive treatment. Her doctors said that continuous care is essential for her survival.
This month, the family received a notice from federal immigration authorities revoking their legal status and ordering them to leave the country.
"It is in your best interest to avoid deportation and leave the United States of your own accord," the letter read.
Newsweek has contacted the family via GoFundMe and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services via email for comment.
Children playing on the beach near the border wall between Mexico and the United States.
Children playing on the beach near the border wall between Mexico and the United States.
Aimee Melo/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
What To Know
Deysi Vargas, 28, from Oaxaca, Mexico, and her husband, 34, from Colombia, met while working in Cancun and later moved to Playa del Carmen, where he drove for Uber.
Their daughter, S.G.V., was born prematurely and soon diagnosed with short bowel syndrome, a rare condition requiring intensive medical care. She underwent multiple surgeries and suffered repeated infections, one of which was nearly fatal.
By 2023, with little progress and growing concern for her daughter's future, Vargas applied for legal entry into the U.S. through the CBP One app. The family traveled to Tijuana, Mexico, where border officials granted them humanitarian parole. S.G.V. arrived still connected to her IV nutrition system.
As a result of her illness, the child spent much of her early life hospitalized in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, dependent on feeding tubes around the clock. Her condition caused developmental delays, including a one-year setback in her growth.
Dr. John Arsenault of the Children's Hospital Los Angeles told the Los Angeles Times that he sees the girl every six weeks. He said that any interruption to her daily nutrition regimen, known as Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), could be life-threatening within days.
"As such, patients on home TPN are not allowed to leave the country because the infrastructure to provide TPN or provide immediate intervention if there is a problem with IV access depends on our program's utilization of U.S.-based health care resources and does not transfer across borders," Arsenault said.
President Donald Trump said during his campaign that immigration enforcement would prioritize people with criminal records. However, his administration has taken broader steps to roll back legal protections. In recent months, humanitarian parole and other temporary legal statuses granted under earlier policies have been subject to review or revocation.
Thousands of people who entered the United States through programs such as the CBP One app—many without criminal histories—have received notices instructing them to leave voluntarily or face legal consequences.
What People Are Saying
Deysi Vargas, in a post on GoFundMe: "Due to unexpected changes in our circumstances, we're navigating an urgent situation that could impact Sofia's continued medical treatment at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Any support during this uncertain and difficult time would mean the world to us and help us stay focused on her care."
Family attorney Rebecca Brown told the Los Angeles Times: "This child will die and there's no sense for that to happen. It would just be a cruel sacrifice."
What Happens Next
The family could be forced to return to Mexico unless the Trump administration restores their legal status.
