A federal judge has ordered that a pregnant woman from Ghana and her 4-year-old son cannot spend another night at Dulles International Airport, where they have been detained for over a week. The ruling came Friday, ending an extended detention for the pair who had arrived on May 19.

Annabella Gyasi and her son had traveled to the United States on a valid tourist visa with the intention of seeking medical treatment for the child. However, they were placed in a holding room by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon arrival and remained there since, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

The ACLU, which filed a habeas petition on their behalf, hailed the judge's decision. ACLU-VA Executive Director Mary Bauer stated that the court unequivocally ruled they should not spend another night at the airport. Bauer expressed relief that Gyasi and her son would be freed from what she described as a nightmare, emphasizing that no one should endure such inhumane conditions.

Gyasi and her son were reportedly en route back to Ghana on Friday. The ACLU's petition alleged that the detention violated long-standing regulations and policies designed to protect at-risk individuals, including pregnant women and children, from prolonged detention. The petition also referenced a court settlement mandating the transfer of children out of detention within 72 hours.

The 38-year-old mother had previously brought her son to the U.S. in 2024 when he was two years old to consult a specialist for physical abnormalities affecting his hands. At that time, doctors advised that he was too young for corrective surgery.

Earlier in May, Gyasi scheduled a pre-operation appointment at a children's hospital in Ohio and intended to use the same tourist visa for the trip, her lawyers stated. A Department of Homeland Security official confirmed Gyasi's custody with CBP at Dulles and indicated she would remain in custody pending an immigration hearing.

The DHS spokesperson denied allegations about the conditions of her detention, asserting that all individuals in CBP custody receive appropriate care, including medical evaluation, medication, and food. The ACLU, however, countered that the prolonged detention endangered both Ms. Gyasi's health and the viability of her pregnancy, attributing these conditions to the administration's immigration policies.

This case highlights ongoing debates surrounding immigration enforcement and the treatment of vulnerable individuals arriving at U.S. ports of entry. The ACLU's petition aimed to challenge what they described as unlawful detention practices that contravene established protocols for protecting children and pregnant women.