When a tiny 4-year-old girl’s life depends on daily medical care, the immigration system becomes more than just rules and paperwork — it becomes a matter of life and death.
This is exactly the situation for a young Mexican migrant girl receiving critical treatment in California, whose case has brought attention to the gaps and struggles within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s policies.
How Humanitarian Parole Helped a Young Girl Get Life-Saving Care
Back in 2023, Deysi Vargas and her daughter, known only by her initials SGV to protect her privacy, were granted legal immigration status so the little girl could get treatment for a serious condition called short bowel syndrome.
This rare disorder means she needs a special medical process called Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), which feeds her through an IV using a portable backpack.
Because only a few countries — including the U.S. — have the medical infrastructure to safely provide this care, SGV’s treatment can’t happen outside the United States.
That’s why the family’s humanitarian parole, which they received from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), was so critical.
It allowed her to stay in California and get the daily treatment she needs to survive.
A Sudden Scare When Parole Was Revoked Without Warning
Everything seemed stable until April when the family was shocked by a letter from DHS telling them their humanitarian parole was revoked.
This news threw them into panic because without the parole, SGV’s access to her life-saving care would be cut off.
Vargas shared at a May news conference, “If they deport us and take away my daughter’s access to her specialized care, she will die.”
The family’s attorneys pointed out that there was no warning or clear way to communicate with immigration officials about the urgency of the situation.
It took pressure from elected officials and international attention just to get a response — a process that used to take just one phone call.
The Medical Reality Behind SGV’s Condition
SGV receives her TPN treatment for about 14 hours a day and can leave the hospital thanks to her portable nutrition backpack.
Her physician, Dr. John Arsenault, stresses the severity of her condition, warning that without treatment, the girl’s condition could become fatal within days.
“Patients on home TPN are not allowed to leave the country,” Dr. Arsenault explained, “because the specialized care and emergency intervention she needs depend entirely on resources available in the U.S.”
While in Mexico before coming to the U.S., SGV suffered multiple blood infections and had to undergo six surgeries — making the continuous care she receives now even more vital.
Looking Ahead Amid Systemic Challenges
On June 2, the family finally received a new humanitarian parole that will allow them to stay for another year, but the attorneys warn that this case sheds light on broader systemic problems.
Many others face similar life-threatening situations but do not get the same level of attention or support.
Public Counsel, the family’s legal representatives, stated, “We cannot ignore the systemic challenges that brought Sofia to the brink.
Her parole was terminated without warning, and for weeks there was no functioning way to alert USCIS that a child’s life was in danger.”
Despite the victory in getting the parole extended, the family continues to work on securing longer-term solutions as they navigate a complex immigration and healthcare landscape.