Reveals ICE Detains Venezuelan Family in Medical Setting

At a Glance

• Two parents and their 7-year-old daughter were detained by ICE after seeking medical help for a nosebleed.
• They are held at ICE’s South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, the same facility detaining a viral case of a 5-year-old boy.
• The family is from Venezuela and has a pending asylum application.
• Why it matters: The incident shows how immigration enforcement can intrude into medical settings and threatens families’ access to care.

The story of Diana Crespo and her parents began with a routine medical visit that turned into a detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). After a nosebleed on Jan. 15, the family sought help at Portland Adventist Health, only to be seized by ICE agents in the parking lot. The trio-Diana, her mother Darianny Liseth Gonzalez De Crespo, and father Yohendry De Jesus Crespo-now await release from ICE’s South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley.

Background

Diana, a 7-year-old, was born in Venezuela and arrived in the United States with her parents just over a year ago. Their family initially settled in Utah before moving to Oregon in October to escape heightened immigration enforcement in their former state. They entered the U.S. through California after an appointment with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. While the parents hold work permits, they also have a pending asylum application.

The family’s story was first reported by Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) and Noticias Noroeste. A friend of the Crespos, Ana, told OPB that the family had moved because of fear of the Venezuelan government. She added that they had also relocated to live with her family in Oregon.

Detainment

On Jan. 16, the family was waiting in the parking lot of Portland Adventist Health when ICE agents approached. According to a GoFundMe page set up by Darianny’s friend, Stephanie Melendez, “ICE agents forced them out of the car, and they were unable to get a doctor to see their daughter. They are being held without money and urgently need help to cover lawyers, food and everything else while they are detained.” Melendez also praised the parents, saying “Darianny and Yohendry are a couple full of dreams and goals, honest and hardworking people who came to this country to work and give their daughter Diana a good future.”

The family is currently held at the same ICE facility that houses Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5-year-old boy who gained national attention after his detainment in Minnesota. The South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley is a high-security location that detains families pending immigration proceedings.

A friend of the family reported that Diana remained sick after her detainment and did not receive medical care at ICE for several days. The child is now better, but the family is still awaiting release and legal representation.

Response

Portland Adventist Health’s communications manager, CJ Anderson, told OPB that the hospital had no knowledge of the detainment. “No law enforcement agency contacted us, and we did not coordinate with any agency,” Anderson said. “Adventist Health Portland is here for our community, open, available and ready to provide care when it’s needed most. Patient care remains our priority, regardless of circumstance.”

Alyssa Walker Keller, coordinator of the Portland Immigrants Rights Coalition, described the incident as “horrific” and noted that it was one of the first family detainments in Oregon. “It’s horrific this happened, and [it’s] a new, unsettling dynamic to see a family unit detained like this in Oregon,” Keller said.

Both ICE and Portland Adventist Health have not responded to the request for comment made on Jan. 24.

Timeline

Key Takeaways

• ICE detainment can occur in unexpected places, including medical facilities.
• Families with pending asylum cases are at risk of being held without access to care or legal resources.
• Community support, such as GoFundMe campaigns, is crucial for families navigating ICE detainment.