“Urgent threat to her life”: Outrage erupts after detained mother of five rushed to ER in “excruciating” pain as claims surface ICE denied care for weeks

Texas – A growing wave of concern has erupted over the treatment of a detained mother of five in Texas, after new court filings revealed alarming details about her worsening medical condition and repeated requests for care that were allegedly denied. At the center of the case is Hayman El Gamal, who has been held at the Dilley Detention Center for more than ten months alongside her children.

According to her attorney, Eric Lee, El Gamal had been pleading for medical attention since mid-February after discovering a painful lump in her chest. Despite a doctor at the facility recommending a CT scan, the request was allegedly denied by officials. Weeks later, her condition escalated dramatically, culminating in an emergency room visit on April 9 after what was described as hours of severe distress. At that point, she rated her pain as an 11 out of 10.

The CT scan performed during that emergency visit revealed fluid around her heart, a condition known as pericardial effusion. An ER doctor recommended further testing, including an ultrasound, but court filings claim that those recommendations were also denied by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, and CoreCivic, the private company that operates the facility.

Mounting medical concerns and expert warnings

The situation has raised serious concerns among medical professionals. Three independent physicians reviewed El Gamal’s records and warned that her condition could be far more serious than initially believed. They recommended further testing for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and heart-related complications. In their findings, they stated that ICE and CoreCivic “are systematically denying Ms. El Gamal medical care, but also that this poses an urgent threat to Ms. El Gamal’s health and potentially her life.”

One physician, Dr. Amy Zeidan, noted that the scan performed may not have been sufficient, explaining that more detailed imaging was needed to properly evaluate possible infection. She also raised the possibility that the chest mass could be cancer and urged immediate follow-up care. Another specialist, Dr. Virginia Reddy, warned that the fluid around El Gamal’s heart could be linked to autoimmune conditions such as lupus, stressing that early diagnosis is critical to prevent permanent damage.

Dr. Christopher Merrick added even more urgency, writing, “I regret to say Ms. El Gamal has suffered and continues to suffer at the hands of negligent staff at the Dilley facility. Their inaction places her life at risk in a very tangible way.”

Despite these warnings, the court documents describe a pattern in which El Gamal’s repeated requests for care were met with minimal responses. “Each time Ms. El Gamal made a request for medical attention, the notes state that she was merely ‘reassured,’ given ibuprofen or provided with generic suggestions like ‘prevent dehydration’ and ‘avoid heavy lifting,’” Lee stated.

Family detention and legal battle intensify

El Gamal’s situation is further complicated by her family’s legal status. She and her five children, ranging in age from 5 to 18, were detained after the arrest of her former husband, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who faces serious criminal charges related to an attack in Colorado. The family has publicly condemned his actions, and El Gamal has since divorced him. Still, authorities are seeking to deport the entire family.

Her attorney argues that the prolonged detention violates court-mandated rules that limit how long children can be held. He has asked the court to release the family under supervision or at least reunite El Gamal with her eldest daughter, Habiba Soliman, so she can care for her younger siblings if her mother’s condition worsens.

Efforts to secure their release have repeatedly failed. A federal judge blocked an earlier attempt at rapid deportation, but subsequent bond decisions have been overturned, leaving the family still in custody.

Emotional testimony and growing outrage

The emotional toll of the situation has also come into focus through statements from El Gamal’s daughter. Habiba described how the family initially hesitated to seek help, having seen others receive little care. But as her mother’s condition worsened, they began pleading for assistance.

“We said: ‘Please, we need a CAT scan or anything. This might be something serious,’” she recalled. “They said ‘just do an X-ray’ and the X-ray is literally broken — it’s not even working appropriately.”

She also described another alarming incident involving her younger brother, who suffered from appendicitis while in detention. According to her account, he was initially told to take Tylenol and return later, despite severe pain. “He walked from her room to the waiting room and then he fell on his knees and threw up all over the place,” she said. “That’s when they started taking him seriously.”

Official responses and unanswered questions

Officials have pushed back on criticism. CoreCivic stated it could not comment on specific cases due to privacy and ongoing legal matters, but insisted its facilities provide professional, patient-centered care. The company also said that emergency services are activated when needed.

Meanwhile, DHS has previously dismissed similar allegations as “mainstream media lies,” claiming detainees receive proper medical attention and describing the care as “the best healthcare” some individuals have experienced.

However, in this case, neither DHS nor ICE responded directly to requests for comment regarding El Gamal’s condition or the claims outlined in court filings.

As the legal battle continues, the case has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over detention conditions, medical care, and the treatment of families in immigration custody. For now, the central question remains unresolved: whether timely care could have prevented the worsening of a condition that doctors now warn may pose an “urgent threat to her life.”