Latest news with #MarfanSyndrome
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Father who was allowed to stay in US to care for disabled children is at risk of removal, lawyer says
Ten years ago, border czar Tom Homan, who was then an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official, got an urgent request from an immigration attorney: Please grant a stay of removal to a migrant father of two U.S. citizen children with disabilities, who was at risk of deportation. In a brief reply to the attorney's email about Juan Marcial Ocampo, a Mexican national who had been living in Maryland for about 13 years, Homan granted the request to allow Ocampo to remain in the U.S. "Granted one year stay," Homan said in the email obtained by ABC News. MORE: 'Have mercy': Families plead as migrants arrested at routine DHS check-ins While the reprieve granted by Homan, who is one of the public faces of the Trump administration's hardline immigration agenda, expired after one year, Ocampo remained in the U.S. and regularly checked in with ICE. Typically, those in removal proceedings are required to report to ICE annually to maintain compliance with their immigration status. Advocates and attorneys told ABC News the check-ins are how ICE has kept track of some people who are not priority for removal. But now, almost ten years later, Ocampo is at risk of imminent deportation to Mexico after being detained last week during a routine ICE check-in, according to his wife and attorney. The Trump administration, in an effort to increase the arrests of noncitizens, has been detaining migrants at immigration courts and at ICE check-ins, immigrant advocacy groups and attorneys have told ABC News. Homan, who granted Ocampo a stay during the Obama administration, has recently warned that every undocumented migrant should worry they could be arrested at any time, even if they have no criminal record. "There's consequences [for] entering the country illegally," Homan told ABC News' Martha Raddatz in January. Ocampo's wife and lawyer told ABC News that after being granted the one-year stay of removal by Homan in 2015, Ocampo checked in regularly with ICE for several years without a problem. "I always accompany him to his check-ins and I was in the car last week waiting for him when he messaged me saying he had been detained," his wife, Maria de Jesus Benhumea, told ABC News in Spanish. In her 2015 email to Homan, Ocampo's immigration attorney told Homan that a Baltimore ICE office had denied Ocampo's request for a stay of removal. "The Baltimore field office has denied the request for stay of removal. Mr. Marcial has a 1999 expedited removal order and has lived in Maryland for the past 13 years," the lawyer said in the email. "He has two U.S. citizen children with a serious genetic disease called Marfan Syndrome which will slowly render them blind." "We respectfully request that ICE HQ grant a stay of removal so Mr. Marcial Ocampo can continue to financially support his two U.S. citizen children diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome," the lawyer wrote. In the email, the lawyer also said that Ocampo has a DUI on his record from 2008, "for which he is very regretful but attests that his entire way of life changed after becoming a father." An ABC News review of Maryland and federal court records found a 2018 traffic citation for driving without a license. Ocampo pled guilty, according to the records. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson, in a statement to ABC News, said, "This illegal alien has remained in the United States illegally for nearly 10 years longer than the 1 year stay he was granted. During that time, he re-offended and was charged with a second DUI, endangering innocent Americans. The Trump Administration is committed to keeping the President's promise to deport illegal aliens." After being detained during his ICE check-in last week, Ocampo, according to Bianca Granados, one of his current immigration lawyers, was transferred to an ICE processing center in Texas. MORE: Trump's border czar: 'If you're in the country illegally, you got a problem' "He's been complying with everything that ICE has asked from him," Granados said. "There's no reason why he should be detained, especially with these compelling reasons as to why he needs to be with his family and continue to provide for his U.S. citizen girls." Benhumea told ABC News that her two daughters, who are now both legally blind, have been asking about their father. "They know what happened and they are very scared," she told ABC News. "My husband is a good man, he works and we go to church on the weekend. We need him." Father who was allowed to stay in US to care for disabled children is at risk of removal, lawyer says originally appeared on
20 hours ago
- Politics
Father who was allowed to stay in US to care for disabled children is at risk of removal, lawyer says
Ten years ago, border czar Tom Homan, who was then an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official, got an urgent request from an immigration attorney: Please grant a stay of removal to a migrant father of two U.S. citizen children with disabilities, who was at risk of deportation. In a brief reply to the attorney's email about Juan Marcial Ocampo, a Mexican national who had been living in Maryland for about 13 years, Homan granted the request to allow Ocampo to remain in the U.S. "Granted one year stay," Homan said in the email obtained by ABC News. While the reprieve granted by Homan, who is one of the public faces of the Trump administration's hardline immigration agenda, expired after one year, Ocampo remained in the U.S. and regularly checked in with ICE. Typically, those in removal proceedings are required to report to ICE annually to maintain compliance with their immigration status. Advocates and attorneys told ABC News the check-ins are how ICE has kept track of some people who are not priority for removal. But now, almost ten years later, Ocampo is at risk of imminent deportation to Mexico after being detained last week during a routine ICE check-in, according to his wife and attorney. The Trump administration, in an effort to increase the arrests of noncitizens, has been detaining migrants at immigration courts and at ICE check-ins, immigrant advocacy groups and attorneys have told ABC News. Homan, who granted Ocampo a stay during the Obama administration, has recently warned that every undocumented migrant should worry they could be arrested at any time, even if they have no criminal record. "There's consequences [for] entering the country illegally," Homan told ABC News' Martha Raddatz in January. Ocampo's wife and lawyer told ABC News that after being granted the one-year stay of removal by Homan in 2015, Ocampo checked in regularly with ICE for several years without a problem. "I always accompany him to his check-ins and I was in the car last week waiting for him when he messaged me saying he had been detained," his wife, Maria de Jesus Benhumea, told ABC News in Spanish. ABC News has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment. In her 2015 email to Homan, Ocampo's immigration attorney told Homan that a Baltimore ICE office had denied Ocampo's request for a stay of removal. "The Baltimore field office has denied the request for stay of removal. Mr. Marcial has a 1999 expedited removal order and has lived in Maryland for the past 13 years," the lawyer said in the email. "He has two U.S. citizen children with a serious genetic disease called Marfan Syndrome which will slowly render them blind." "We respectfully request that ICE HQ grant a stay of removal so Mr. Marcial Ocampo can continue to financially support his two U.S. citizen children diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome," the lawyer wrote. In the email, the lawyer also said that Ocampo has a DUI on his record from 2008, "for which he is very regretful but attests that his entire way of life changed after becoming a father." An ABC News review of Maryland and federal court records found a 2018 traffic citation for driving without a license. Ocampo pled guilty, according to the records. After being detained last week, Ocampo, according to Bianca Granados, one of his current immigration lawyers, was transferred to an ICE processing center in Texas. "He's been complying with everything that ICE has asked from him," Granados said. "There's no reason why he should be detained, especially with these compelling reasons as to why he needs to be with his family and continue to provide for his U.S. citizen girls." Benhumea told ABC News that her two daughters, who are now both legally blind, have been asking about their father.
NZ Herald
27-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Milly Marshall-Kirkwood on how adversity inspires Paralympic aspirations in seated throwing
At 17, Milly Marshall-Kirkwood is already setting the standard in seated throwing and has her sights set on the World Para Athletics Championships and the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. Her life has been full of challenges from the onset. As a toddler, she was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome, a genetic
The Hindu
01-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
All you need to know about: Marfan Syndrome
What is Marfan Syndrome? Marfan Syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects the body's connective tissue, the material that supports and holds together skin, bones, blood vessels, and organs. When this tissue is weak or stretched, it can cause a wide range of health issues, especially in the heart, eyes, bones, and joints. The condition is named after French doctor Antoine Marfan, who first described it in 1896. What are the signs and symptoms of Marfan syndrome? People with Marfan Syndrome often have a tall and thin build, with long arms, legs, fingers, and toes. Their joints may be unusually flexible, and they often have loose ligaments, meaning their fingers may bend back farther than normal, sometimes even touching the back of their hand. Some may have a curved spine or a chest that sticks out or sinks in. The condition also affects the eyes, often causing the lens inside the eye to slip out of place, known as lens dislocation, which can lead to serious vision problems if not treated in time. The most serious complications involve the heart and major blood vessels. The walls of the aorta (the main artery carrying blood from the heart) can become weak and stretch too much, leading to aneurysms or aortic dissection, both of which can be life-threatening. Some people also have mitral valve prolapse, where a valve in the heart does not close properly. Also Read: Telangana govt hospital doctors perform liver transplantation on patient suffering from Marfan's and rare syndrome Who is at risk? Marfan Syndrome affects about 1 in 10,000 people. It is usually inherited from a parent, but in some cases, it can occur as a new genetic change without a family history. The risk is higher in consanguineous marriages (where partners are closely related), because the chances of passing on certain genetic traits are greater. Some doctors have suggested that Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, may have had features of Marfan Syndrome, such as his tall stature and long limbs. Both men and women are equally affected. How is it diagnosed and treated? Marfan Syndrome is diagnosed based on physical signs, eye exams, heart scans like echocardiograms, and genetic testing. Since the symptoms vary and may develop slowly, diagnosis can be delayed unless doctors specifically look for it. There is no cure for Marfan Syndrome, but it can be managed effectively with the right medical care. Beta-blockers or blood pressure medications like propranolol are often prescribed to reduce stress on the heart and aorta. Regular cardiac checks help monitor the size of the aorta, and surgery may be needed if it becomes dangerously enlarged. Routine care also includes orthopaedic monitoring for bone or spine issues and regular eye check-ups to catch and treat lens dislocation early. Ignoring vision problems can lead to permanent eyesight loss, especially in children. Also Read: Cardiac surgeon calls for screening in schools for Marfan Syndrome What is life like with Marfan Syndrome? With proper precautions, most people with Marfan Syndrome can lead healthy and productive lives. However, they should avoid strenuous activities, contact sports, or heavy physical work, such as military training or physically demanding jobs which could stress the heart or joints. Regular check-ups with a cardiologist, ophthalmologist, and orthopaedic specialist are essential to monitor and manage the condition over time.
