1. United States
2. Letter

You must immediately end the policy directing all pregnant unaccompanied minors to the single shelter in San Benito, Texas. Since July 22, more than a dozen pregnant girls, some as young as 13, have been sent to this facility over the urgent objections of your own health and child welfare officials at the Office of Refugee Resettlement. This policy puts children in danger. At least half of these girls became pregnant through rape, and their pregnancies are high risk by definition. Texas' near-total abortion ban has devastated obstetric care statewide, driving doctors away and leaving those who remain afraid to provide necessary procedures. The San Benito facility itself has a documented history of failing to arrange timely medical appointments and discharging pregnant girls without continuing care arrangements. ORR temporarily barred this shelter from receiving pregnant girls in 2024 for these failures. Young adolescents face serious complications during labor and delivery because their pelvises aren't fully developed. Many of these girls have sexually transmitted infections from rape during their journey, creating additional pregnancy risks. Specialized obstetric care exists hours away in larger Texas cities, not in San Benito. Return to the longstanding federal practice of placing pregnant minors in shelters and foster homes around the country equipped to handle high-risk pregnancies. These children deserve medical care that prioritizes their health and safety, not ideology.