NAACP Backs New Bill to End Pregnancy Abuse in Immigration Detention

The NAACP is throwing its weight behind a critical update to the Pregnant Women in Custody Act, reintroduced by Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, aimed at ending the inhumane treatment of pregnant and postpartum women in federal custody. This legislation expands protections beyond prisons to include immigration detention centers run by ICE, CBP, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)—facilities notorious for neglect and abuse.

Recent reports have exposed horrific conditions: pregnant women shackled during labor, denied vital medical care, and suffering miscarriages while detained. The updated bill seeks to outlaw these practices, improve access to healthcare including mental health and substance use treatment, and ensure family unity. It also demands better data transparency and stronger enforcement mechanisms to hold agencies accountable.

Patrice Willoughby, NAACP Chief of Policy and Legislative Affairs, emphasized the racial disparities at play: Black women make up 20 percent of pregnant detainees and face disproportionate risks due to systemic inequities in healthcare and incarceration. “Pregnant women in custody should never be subjected to dangerous and inhumane treatment,” Willoughby said, highlighting the urgent need to end shackling and improve maternal care.

Rep. Kamlager-Dove called the bill a “human right” issue, condemning the lack of legal safeguards for pregnant women behind bars. The legislation has bipartisan cosponsors and is backed by advocacy groups including the Vera Institute of Justice and Families Against Mandatory Minimums.

With an estimated 58,000 pregnant women admitted to jails and prisons annually, and documented cases of severe medical neglect, this bill aims to bring overdue reform to a broken system. It’s a necessary step to protect some of the most vulnerable people trapped in federal custody, demanding dignity, safety, and proper care for mothers and their babies.