Bakersfield girls facing deportation and saving life-saving medical loss are allowed to stay here
Washington – The family of a 4-year-old Bakersfield girl has a rare medical condition granted humanitarian protection from deportation, allowing her to continue receiving life-saving treatment in the United States.
The girl’s plight was that The Times abbreviated SGV by her name, which aroused public anger and inspired dozens of lawmakers to advocate on her behalf. The girl from Mexico and her parents initially entered the United States legally through Tijuana in 2023.
The Trump administration has revoked legal protections from SGV and its parents, making them vulnerable to deportation. Her doctor at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles said she could die a few days after losing medical care for short bowel syndrome, a disease that prevents her body from fully absorbing the nutrients from food.
“By acting quickly, the agency ensured that a four-year-old girl could continue to receive specialized medical care to keep her alive,” said Rebecca Brown, a family attorney with nonprofit public legal counsel. “However, many families still face harm under thorough policies to eliminate humanitarian parole. We ask the government to ensure that no one is harmed.”
Last week, 38 congressional Democrats, including Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff of California, condemned the termination of family status and urged the Department of Homeland Security to restore the Department of Homeland Security.
“Without action, SGV will die,” wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on May 29. “We urge your department to respond quickly and quickly decide to expand the family’s legal status in the United States,” the lawmaker wrote.
“This is to inform you that you have been granted humanitarian parole for one year since June 2, 2025,” Carmen Paniagua, acting director of the field office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, wrote in a letter to his family and his attorney.
In April, the girl’s mother, Deysi Vargas, received a notice from the federal government that her humanitarian protection and legal work permits had been terminated. The notice tells them to leave voluntarily or “the federal government will find you.”
As of Tuesday, SGV Care’s online fundraising campaign has amassed over $40,000.
