A pregnant woman from Ghana and her 4-year-old son have been detained for more than a week at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C., after arriving on a valid tourist visa to seek medical treatment for the child, according to a habeas petition filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Anabella Gyasi, 38, landed at Dulles on May 19, 2026, with her son, intending to bring him to a children’s hospital in Ohio for a pre-operation appointment. The boy, who first visited the United States in 2024 at age two to see a specialist for physical abnormalities affecting both of his hands, was deemed too young for corrective surgery at that time. Earlier this month, Gyasi scheduled a follow-up appointment and traveled using the same valid tourist visa she had previously used.

Upon arrival, Gyasi and her son were questioned by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) about the purpose of their trip. According to the habeas petition, Gyasi disclosed a fear of returning to Ghana based on persecution she and her son had faced. They were subsequently taken into custody and have remained detained ever since.

The ACLU filed a habeas petition on Tuesday, alleging that Gyasi and her son are being held “despite long-standing regulations and policies requiring that certain at-risk individuals, such as pregnant women and children, be released.”

The petition also cites a court settlement mandating that children be transferred out of detention within 72 hours.

“Converted prison cells”: Conditions inside Dulles detention

According to the ACLU, Gyasi and her son are being held in a room at the airport “that has a single bed, a toilet, a sink, and no windows. They are kept locked in their room for 24 hours a day.”

The petition states that CBP recently instituted a policy requiring the physical custody of all asylum-seeking individuals entering the country at ports of entry, a policy the ACLU argues violates long-standing practices.

“CBP does not maintain immigration detention facilities equipped to safely care for people long-term,” the petition reads. “Instead, pursuant to this policy, CBP has converted nonpublic commercial rooms within airports into prison cells. These ‘hold rooms’ are equipped with nothing more than a toilet, a sink, and a bed, with no on-site medical services.”

Gyasi has been transported to a hospital twice during her detention.

“Doctors there diagnosed her with complications due to the high stress she was experiencing, gave her medication to stop the bleeding, and prescribed blood pressure medication,” her lawyers said in court documents.

According to the ACLU, Gyasi became concerned for the health of her son and her unborn child “given their constant hunger” and was allegedly prevented from purchasing food for her son. Out of desperation, she signed a deportation order, though the ACLU says she does not wish to relinquish her asylum claims and only agreed to be deported due to fear for her child’s health.

Government denies allegations, judge orders hearing

A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official confirmed that Gyasi remains in CBP custody at Dulles and “will remain in custody pending her immigration hearing.” A DHS spokesperson called the allegations regarding the holding room conditions and food access “false,” stating:

“Everyone in CBP custody, including this individual, has access to appropriate care, including medical evaluation by a doctor, medication, and food.”

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ordered the government to show a legal basis for the continued detention of Gyasi and her son.

“A failure to show an adequate legal basis for Petitioners’ continued detention will result in their immediate release so that they may pursue [her son’s] planned medical care,” the judge wrote.

The case has drawn renewed attention to the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown and its impact on vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and young children seeking medical care or asylum at U.S. ports of entry.

A legal battle is brewing in Portugal as Black American expat community prepares to take legal action against the Portuguese government over sudden changes to the country’s citizenship laws.

Reports say over 500 Golden Visa investors are involved in the upcoming legal process.

The controversy erupted after Portugal signed a new nationality law on May 3, 2026, that doubles the pathway to citizenship from 5 years to 10 years for many applicants, according to influencer and global mobility commentator American Mom Global Citizen.

In a viral Instagram video, the creator warned followers considering relocation or second residency options abroad that governments can abruptly alter immigration programs after investors have already committed substantial money and years of waiting.

“They just basically changed the rules and said, ‘Y’all got to deal with it,’” she said.

The influencer explained that many of the affected investors are Americans who entered Portugal’s Golden Visa program believing they were working toward citizenship eligibility under the previous five-year timeline.

Now, applicants allegedly face an additional five years before becoming eligible for Portuguese passports, with no transition period or grandfather clause for people already in the system.

“What they’re saying is we waited, we invested, we followed all of the rules to your game and you’ve just moved the goalpost,” she said.

The situation has sparked intense debate among Black American expats and diaspora communities who increasingly view overseas residency and dual citizenship options as part of long-term economic and political security planning.

Portugal has long been marketed as a top destination for Americans seeking relocation opportunities because of its relative affordability, healthcare access, safety rankings, and residency pathways through investment.

But critics now argue the legal dispute highlights the risks of relying too heavily on residency-by-investment programs that can change with shifting political priorities.

“This is exactly why I talk about having legal stability and legal protections and a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C in place,” the influencer said. “A visa program, a CBI program is only as good as it lasts and it’s only as good as a government plans to honor it.”

The creator also connected the Portugal dispute to her own experience in Turkey, where she said immigration policy changes affected property-based residency rights after she purchased real estate there in 2020.

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According to the video, attorneys representing Golden Visa investors may pursue challenges through Portugal’s court system and potentially escalate the matter before the European Union if necessary.

One attorney involved in the matter reportedly argued that the Portuguese state benefited financially from investor participation while simultaneously delaying applications and later changing the eligibility rules.

The controversy arrives amid broader global conversations around “Plan B” migration strategies among Black Americans, particularly families seeking international options tied to economic mobility, education, healthcare access, or concerns about political instability in the United States.

Social media discussions following the video reflected growing anxiety among aspiring expats who fear that citizenship-by-investment and residency programs across Europe could become increasingly restrictive.

Despite the backlash, the influencer urged viewers not to completely abandon Portugal but to approach international residency planning with caution and legal guidance.

“If you had Portugal on your list, this doesn’t mean walk away,” she said, “but it does mean go in with eyes wide open.”

London, United Kingdom – Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Zita Sabah Benson, has reassured Ghanaian students on government scholarships that a structured payment plan is being implemented to settle outstanding tuition fees and stipends, following the recent release of first-quarter funds by the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat.

The assurance was given during a meeting with student representatives on April 16, 2026, after the Secretariat disbursed funds aimed at addressing an estimated £32 million debt. The timely release helped avert a planned protest scheduled for April 17.

Students had earlier threatened to demonstrate over prolonged delays, with some reporting unpaid stipends for periods ranging from 15 to 40 months. Many faced financial hardship, including warnings from universities and potential immigration issues due to unpaid tuition and missing renewal letters.

High Commissioner Benson clarified that the fund release was part of the Secretariat’s regular quarterly schedule and not a reaction to the protest threat. She emphasised the government’s commitment to establishing a more predictable and sustainable payment mechanism to prevent future disruptions.

The Ghana Mission in the UK has also begun engaging with individuals, churches, and Ghanaian organisations to provide interim support for affected students while discussions continue with authorities in Accra for a lasting resolution.

Students had raised concerns about new scholarships being awarded to beneficiaries in countries such as Canada, the United States, Germany, and China, while longstanding obligations to UK-based scholars remained unresolved.

The High Commissioner’s intervention is seen as a positive step toward restoring confidence and ensuring Ghanaian scholars can focus on their studies without financial distress.