Trump Administration’s latest decision to Deport Migrants with Life-threatening Health Issues

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On Monday, Trump administration announced it would reconsider its controversial decision to force immigrants facing life-threatening health crises to return to their home countries. Last month, it generated public outrage in an abrupt move and was powerfully condemned by the medical establishment. The U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services terminated a deferred action program on 7 August without public notice. The program allowed immigrants to prevent deportation while they or their relatives were undergoing life-saving medical treatment. The agency is a part of the DHS (Department of Homeland Security). It had sent letters informing those who had asked for a renewal, which the immigrants must make every 2 years, that it was no longer entertaining such requests.

The letters said the immigrants must leave the country within 33 days or face deportation. The agency said in a statement on Monday that while limiting the program was appropriate, officials would complete the caseload that was pending on 7 August. The statement said deportation proceedings had not been initiated against anyone who had received the letter. Moreover, it didn’t say whether it would continue to grant immigrants extensions to stay in the country or whether the program would be continued after current applications are processed.

An agency official said the agency is taking immediate corrective action to reopen formerly pending cases for consideration. The official said, “Whether a very limited version of deferred action will continue forward at USCIS is still under review. More information will be forthcoming”. 24 years old, Maria Isabel Bueso has participated in several medical studies. Bueso is among those who had been affected by the administration’s decision to end the program. Those studies include a drug trial that resulted in a treatment for her rare disease, which causes dwarfism and other physical deformities. Bueso said, “This is amazing. This is great news to wake up to”. She had a chance to stay in California, on hearing instead of return to Guatemala, where the drug isn’t available. So, she can’t receive the required medical care.