WASHINGTON D.C. – American Solidarity Party chair Jack Ternan has joined a broad coalition of pro-life organizations in signing an open letter to the Trump administration, demanding an immediate halt to the detention of pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women in immigration custody.

The letter, addressed to President Donald Trump and top Homeland Security officials, calls for the reinstatement of federal policies that presume release for these vulnerable individuals except in “truly exceptional circumstances.” The signatories argue that the current practice places both mothers and their unborn children at severe risk, as detention facilities are ill-equipped to provide the necessary specialized medical care.

The American Solidarity Party was among a diverse group of signatories that included secular, faith-based, and politically varied organizations such as Democrats for Life, Live Action, Rehumanize International, Secular Pro-Life, and the Pro-Life Action League. The letter underscores a consistent pro-life ethic, stating, “We write as pro-life organizations… to urge the immediate reinstatement and enforcement of federal protections.”

The coalition’s central demand is the restoration of a July 2021 ICE guidance that limited the detention of pregnant and postpartum women. While this directive was never officially rescinded, the letter alleges it is no longer being followed, citing ICE web pages that have been marked as “archived” and not reflective of current practice.

This apparent policy shift reverses protections first established in 2016, which were then ended by the administration in 2017. The letter points to U.S. Government Accountability Office data showing a stark consequence of that initial reversal: the number of pregnant women detained by ICE increased by approximately 52%, from 1,377 in 2016 to 2,094 in 2018.

Citing warnings from major medical organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the letter details the significant health risks involved. It argues that detention centers often lack adequate prenatal care, specialized nutrition, and the capacity for emergency treatment. The coalition claims this has led to tragic outcomes, asserting that “unborn children are dying because of this policy” due to reported miscarriages and delayed medical care in custody.

In addition to demanding the release of currently detained women who are not a security threat, the letter advocates for alternatives to detention, such as community-based supervision, as more humane and cost-effective solutions.

The signatories frame their appeal as an area for consensus, concluding that “protecting pregnant women in immigration custody should be common ground.” The Trump administration has not yet issued a public response to the coalition’s demands.