She needed surgery. Now she is suffering in detention.
Help free Andrea »

Andy, these are the types of advocacy actions that can save lives. We hope you’ll take a second:

Andrea Pedro-Francisco should have had emergency surgery weeks ago. Instead, she is being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas, in constant and worsening pain.

Andrea is a 23-year-old asylum seeker from Guatemala. Before her detention, doctors scheduled surgery to remove a large ovarian cyst. But she was detained just days before the procedure as part of ICE’s “Operation Metro Surge” in Minneapolis, and she has been denied the care she urgently needs.

She is experiencing severe abdominal and lower back pain, along with other serious symptoms. A doctor confirmed she needs surgery or her condition will worsen, but it has still not happened. Without it, she risks serious complications, including infertility or death.

No one should suffer like this. Will you take action today to call for Andrea’s release and urgent medical care?

Andrea Pedro-Francisco, a 23-year-old asylum seeker, now faces severe pain in detention after being denied urgent medical care she needs.

Andrea went to the U.S. seeking safety. But now, she’s being held at a facility where people face serious barriers to healthcare: the El Paso Service Processing Center is a particularly cruel ICE detention center Amnesty International recently visited, where our researchers documented¹ inhumane and unsanitary conditions, medical neglect, abuse, and other mistreatment.

Denying her urgent medical care puts her life at even greater risk.

Since January, at least 17 people have died in ICE custody. We must get Andrea out of ICE detention and get her the medical care she needs.

Add your name and call the El Paso ICE Field Office Director today — it only takes a minute and it could save Andrea’s life.

In solidarity,

Amy Fischer
Director, Refugee and Migrant Rights Program
Amnesty International USA

P.S. Andrea needed surgery weeks ago. Every day in detention increases the risk to her health. Please take a moment now to call for her immediate release.

[1] https://www.amnestyusa.org/reports/dehumanized-by-design-human-rights-violations-in-el-paso/

© 2026 Amnesty International USA

311 W 43rd Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10036 | 1-800-AMNESTY

Please don't reply to this email. You can send questions to [email protected].

We’re so happy you’re here to hear about the most important updates on human rights!
If necessary, you can opt to receive fewer emails or unsubscribe here.