Federal Judge Orders Release of Pregnant Ghanaian Woman and Son Detained at Dulles Airport Pending Immigration Hearing
A federal judge ruled Friday that Anabella Gyasi and her 4-year-old son must leave Dulles Airport detention after more than a week in custody. The ACLU filed the habeas petition on May 26 alleging violations of policies protecting pregnant women and children.
deccanchronicle.comA federal judge ordered on Friday, May 29, 2026, that a pregnant woman and her 4-year-old son from Ghana cannot spend another night at Dulles International Airport. Anabella Gyasi, 38, arrived at the airport on May 19 with a valid tourist visa. She has been held in a Customs and Border Protection holding room since that date.
The ACLU filed a habeas petition on Tuesday, May 26, alleging that Gyasi and her son are being detained despite long-standing regulations and policies requiring that certain at-risk individuals, such as pregnant women and children, be released. The petition also pointed to a court settlement that requires children to be transferred out of detention within 72 hours.
U.S. In 2024 when he was 2 years old to see a specialist for physical abnormalities affecting both of his hands. At that appointment, she was told her son was too young for corrective surgery. Earlier in May 2026, she scheduled a pre-operation appointment at a children's hospital in Ohio and planned to travel with the same tourist visa she had previously used.
A Department of Homeland Security official confirmed on Thursday, May 28, that Gyasi was in CBP custody at Dulles and stated she will remain in custody pending her immigration hearing. The DHS spokesperson called the allegations about the conditions of her detention false and said everyone in CBP custody has access to appropriate care, including medical evaluation by a doctor, medication, and food.
Gyasi and her son were heading back to Ghana on Friday, May 29.
ACLU-VA Executive Director Mary Bauer said, "Today the court ordered in no uncertain terms that Ms. " Bauer also said, "Ms.
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