Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)
Dr. Anita K. Patel, MD Will Highlight Concerning Medical Conditions in ICE Detention Centers and the Right to Quality Medical Care
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced that his guest for the president’s 2026 State of the Union address will be Dr. Anita K. Patel, MD, critical care specialist and associate professor of pediatrics in Washington, D.C. With over 16 years of experience, Dr. Patel has advocated for delivering adequate treatment, recommendations and guidance for parents facing medical challenges with their children. Most recently, she has used her social media platform and medical expertise to bring attention to the inadequate medical care children and mothers face in ICE detention centers.
“Hundreds of innocent children are being imprisoned because of the Trump Administration’s cruel mass deportation campaign,” said Congressman Castro. “I have seen firsthand the physical toll and psychological trauma that being in places like the Dilley trailer prison has on children and babies as young as two months old. My guest to the State of the Union address, Dr. Anita K Patel, has used her platform to shed light on the brutal stories of medical neglect and abuse at ICE detention facilities and will continue to help make the case that we must free our children from these horrors.”
“ICE’s aggressive tactics on our children and the communities they live in will have lasting consequences,” said Dr. Anita K. Patel, MD. “The body remembers trauma and the lack of access to quality medical care is compounding harm on our children. I am honored to join Congressman Castro for the State of the Union address to share my experience as a pediatrician and shed light on these horrifying stories. We demand immediate action to keep our children safe and protect their future.”