A Fight Against Medical Deportation: The Struggles of an Immigrant Family in the U.S.

Sat Oct 18 2025 10:27:20 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The alarming practice of medical deportation threatens vulnerable immigrant patients in the U.S. This article explores the heartbreaking case of Solibel Olaverria, as her husband battles to keep her from being sent back to the Dominican Republic after a severe medical crisis.

In Allentown, PA, Junior Clase faces an uphill battle in trying to secure ongoing medical care for his wife, Solibel Olaverria, who suffered a devastating brain aneurysm and stroke. After the hospital suggested medical deportation due to her uninsured status, advocates rallied support to protect her rights. This case highlights the complexities of medical repatriation, the legal gray areas involved, and the emotional toll on immigrant families navigating the U.S. healthcare system amid drastic changes in immigration policies.

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) — Junior Clase’s cluttered kitchen table paints a picture of his life in the United States. Scattered across it are bottles of deodorant and conditioner that he sends back to the Dominican Republic, a Spanish-language Bible and a plastic medical brace for his wife, Solibel Olaverria.

Olaverria began having intense headaches and vomiting five months after she joined her husband in the U.S. In the emergency room, she was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm; during surgery to stop it from rupturing, she suffered a stroke and was induced into a coma.

She left the couple’s Allentown row house in December 2022 and has yet to return. Clase worries she never will.

In February 2023, Clase said, hospital administrators suggested transporting his still-comatose wife to a facility back in the Dominican Republic – an option he refused.

“They told me that they could send her back to my country,” he said – even without my consent. “At that moment, she was missing a piece of her skull. … If they put her in an airplane or a helicopter, it was possible that she would die.”

Though the federal government is the only entity with jurisdiction to remove people from the U.S., hospitals sometimes return uninsured noncitizen patients in need of long-term care to their countries of origin. Advocates call this 'medical deportation.' Hospitals refer to it as 'medical repatriation' and, by either name, it raises profound ethical concerns.

Facing limited options for care, many immigrant patients may feel coerced into leaving the U.S. when hospitals suggest repatriation. This practice has garnered attention for its lack of oversight and potential violations of patients’ rights.

Cases like Olaverria’s reflect growing concerns surrounding medical deportation during a tumultuous time in the U.S. immigration system.

In May 2023, Olaverria was moved to a long-term care facility, and after months in a coma, she awakened, yet she is far from recovered. Together, Clase and Olaverria continue to navigate the complexities of the healthcare and immigration systems.

The situation emphasizes a pressing need for legal protections and better healthcare access for immigrants. Advocates stress the importance of consent and providing options for patients who face the harsh reality of medical repatriations. As this family continues their fight for care, their story serves as a stark reminder of the challenges many immigrant families encounter in the U.S.