U.S. citizen child with brain cancer deported to Mexico with parents
Mar 24, 2026·Location: Rio Grande City, TX
Country of origin: Mexico

A 10-year-old U.S. citizen girl recovering from brain cancer was deported to Mexico along with her undocumented parents and four American-born siblings in February 2025. The family was detained at an immigration checkpoint while traveling from Rio Grande City to Houston for the child's emergency medical checkup. The girl, who had undergone surgery to remove a brain tumor, has been unable to continue her specialized medical treatment and rehabilitation in Mexico. An 11-year-old U.S. citizen recovering from brain cancer was deported to Mexico with her family by Border Patrol agents despite her documented citizenship and need for ongoing medical treatment. The family was traveling to Houston for emergency care when agents ignored a hospital letter the family had used previously at checkpoints and detained the family, deporting them the next day. The citizen child's 18-year-old brother, Fernando Hernández García, was not detained and remained in the U.S. to earn money and send medicine to his sister. The family's lawyers report they have been unable to access proper medical care in Mexico and have applied for humanitarian parole.
Sources
- U.S. citizen child recovering from brain cancer removed to Mexico with undocumented parents
NBC News·Mar 13, 2025·archived copy
NBC News·Mar 13, 2025·archived copy
- After a year in Mexico, recovery has stalled for U.S. citizen girl with rare brain tumor, deported mother says
NBC News·Feb 23, 2026·archived copy
- How American Kids Have Been Collateral Damage in Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
ProPublica·Mar 24, 2026·archived copy
- Deported family of US citizen girl recovering from rare brain tumor is determined to return
nbclosangeles.com·May 9, 2025·archived copy
- One Year Without Proper Treatment for Her Rare Brain Tumor, 11-Year-Old U.S. Citizen Remains Stuck in Mexico
latintimes.com·Feb 28, 2026·archived copy
- Recovery stalls for U.S. citizen girl with rare brain tumor, deported mother says
aol.com·Feb 23, 2026·archived copy
More incidents in Texas
- Texas pastor deported to Ghana, a country he has never visitedOct 6, 2026 · Mesquite, TX
- ICE arrests in Austin area surge over 300% since start of Trump's second termOct 6, 2026 · Austin, TX
- ICE agent shoots Venezuelan DoorDash driver in back, leaves him partially paralyzedOct 4, 2026 · Austin, TX
- Bodycam footage contradicts ICE account of US citizen's fatal shooting in TexasOct 4, 2026 · South Padre Island, TX
- Hundreds march in San Antonio as officials weigh lawsuit against ICE detention facilityOct 3, 2026 · San Antonio, TX
- Judge expands border wall halt across Big Bend region of TexasOct 2, 2026 · El Paso, TX