Physician-Lawmaker Blocked from Speaking with Pregnant Teens at Texas Detention Facility, Demands Answers on Transfers

SAN BENITO, TX- Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), who spent twenty years as a critical care physician and pulmonologist, conducted oversight at the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) facility in San Benito, Texas, where pregnant migrant minors are being detained. During the visit, Rep. Dexter was blocked from speaking with unaccompanied minors who had previously expressed interest in meeting. Additionally, officials failed to provide clear answers to a series of questions about access to care and where children are being transferred to after leaving the facility.

"It should not be difficult to answer straightforward questions about the wellbeing of children in federal custody," Dexter said. "If girls are being moved out of this facility, Congress and the public deserve to know if they are safe and whether their healthcare needs are being met."

"As of this morning, there were individuals who indicated they wanted to speak with me about their experience in detention. By the time I arrived, officials reported that they would no longer speak to me without explanation," Dexter continued. "The question is, what are officials hiding? When some of the most vulnerable members of our society-pregnant minors-are detained, transparency and accountability should be the bare minimum."

Recently, the acting director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) directed that unaccompanied pregnant immigrant children be sent to this single facility in a state where they are unable to access abortion services. Advocates and medical professionals have raised alarms about the risks of concentrating vulnerable pregnant teens in a region with limited access to healthcare. Dexter said she repeatedly asked officials for basic information about the healthcare and resources available to the young people at the facility but did not receive clear or complete answers. She also raised concerns about where the girls are being transferred after leaving San Benito, noting that the number of detainees has decreased while officials did not clearly explain where those minors are being sent or what continuity of care is being provided.

Rep. Dexter traveled to Texas in her capacity as both a Member of Congress and physician to assess the health and safety of children in federal custody and demand accountability for their treatment. Dexter requested written answers from the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

###