Gibson Dunn Secures Release of Woman in Third Trimester of High-Risk Pregnancy From ICE Detention
Firm News | August 26, 2026
A pro bono team of Gibson Dunn litigators has secured the release of a woman in her third trimester of a high-risk pregnancy from ICE detention.
The firm’s client was brought to the U.S. as a toddler and has lived in the country for more than 20 years. A DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) applicant with no criminal record, she was detained in early May after a routine traffic stop (over a violation that was later dismissed) and was then transferred to a Louisiana detention center, where she was held for months despite ICE’s own policy against detaining pregnant individuals. She developed serious pregnancy complications in custody and was repeatedly denied adequate care.
In a habeas petition filed in the Western District of Louisiana, the Gibson Dunn pro bono team argued that her detention violated ICE Directive 11032.4, which bars detaining pregnant individuals absent narrow exceptional circumstances, none of which applied here. After several rounds of briefing, ICE released her. She is now home with her family, awaiting the birth of her baby.
Her partner wrote to the team: “Everyone who joined this effort from the beginning played a crucial role, and I personally stand in awe of your human warmth and outstanding professionalism.”
Her case was one of three habeas releases Gibson Dunn secured in a landmark week for the firm’s pro bono practice.
The team included partners Katie Marquart (the firm’s Pro Bono Chair), Lissa Percopo, and Jamal Lama and associates Seton Hartnett O’Brien, Natasha Babazadeh, Raena Ferrer Calubaquib, Mary Karapogosian, and Dylan Gunaratne.