Letter to Secretary Mullin and Mr. Lyons on Detention of Pregnant and Postpartum Women and their Children

The Honorable Markwayne Mullin
Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
2707 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE
Washington, D.C. 20528

Mr. Todd Lyons
Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
500 12th St NW
Washington, D.C. 20536

April 13, 2026

Dear Secretary Mullin and Mr. Lyons:

We first take this opportunity to congratulate you on your recent confirmation, Secretary Mullin. We pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you in your continued service to our country. 

As pastors compelled by the Gospel’s call to uphold the dignity of human life, we write to both of you today on behalf of the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities and Committee on Migration regarding a matter of grave concern. There are increasing numbers of alarming reports of pregnant mothers not getting the medical care they need while in immigration detention, tragically resulting in miscarriage in some cases, as well as reports of nursing mothers being separated from their babies when detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)…

Read the full letter on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops