Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Trump administration restores legal status for 4-year-old with life-threatening illness
A 4-year-old girl living in Bakersfield had her legal status revoked last month, despite having a condition that her lawyers say can be adequately treated only in the U.S.
(
Jeremy Cohen
/
Courtesy Public Counsel
)
A chronically ill 4-year-old will be allowed to stay in the United States after the Trump administration granted her temporary legal status this week, her lawyers said.
The move reverses an April decision to revoke the girl's legal status, putting her and her family at risk of potential deportation. Her mother and lawyers said that leaving the country would be a potential death sentence for the child.
She came to the U.S. from Mexico with her family in 2023 seeking treatment for a rare condition called short bowel syndrome. The illness prevents her from processing nutrients on her own and requires round-the-clock care.
Since then, healthcare and equipment from Children's Hospital Los Angeles has allowed her to live at home in Bakersfield for the first time in her short life. Her mother, Deysi Vargas, said that her daughter spends most hours of the day hooked up to intravenous tubes.
Support for LAist comes from
At a recent news conference, the child wore a black backpack containing that equipment, with the tubes barely visible. Otherwise, she appeared like any other 4-year-old, squirming in her seat and beaming while her mother and lawyers implored the Trump administration to take mercy.
Vargas said at that news conference that if her daughter were forced to return to Mexico, she would have to return to full-time hospitalization. Lawyers said that the equipment that allows the girl to live outside of the hospital is only available in the U.S., and that her doctors said she could die within days without her treatment.
Lawmakers added to the outcry in a letter last week to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
"It is our duty to protect the sick, vulnerable and defenseless," that letter read in part.
Lawyers for the child said in a statement Tuesday that immigration officials reached out to the family last week and granted them humanitarian parole again yesterday. It expires June 1, 2026.
"While we celebrate this victory, we cannot ignore the systemic challenges that brought [her] to the brink," the lawyers said in a statement. "It took an international outcry and pressure from elected officials to get a response — something that used to take a single phone call."
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist