Andrea Pedro-Francisco, 23, lives in Burnsville, MN. She came to the US at 16 with her mother, seeking asylum, and has lived and worked in Minnesota for nearly seven years with no criminal history.

She was scheduled for surgery and a biopsy on a tennis-ball sized ovarian cyst on Feb. 11. but was detained by immigration agents in a random sweep on Feb. 5 and sent to El Paso, Texas.

She was held at Camp East Montana and now the El Paso Service Processing Center, where her condition has worsened. 

Andrea has severe chronic pain, heavy bleeding, and dizziness. Early in her detention, she experienced excruciating pain and was taken to a hospital emergency room, where doctors confirmed she needed surgery. The hospital will not perform surgery while Andrea is detained, posing serious risks to her health.

She has been separated from her family and faith community, both of which are tremendously important to her. Clergy with an ecumenical group from Minnesota and North Dakota visited on April 17 - her first visitors from home since her detention.