Deported to Die? U.S. Order Threatens Life of Critically Ill 4-Year-Old

Sofia Vargas’ family fights deportation as medical experts warn her removal from care could be fatal within days

Hey Small Biters,

In a deeply emotional and high-stakes immigration case, the U.S. government has ordered the deportation of a critically ill four-year-old girl, despite urgent warnings from doctors that doing so could cost her life. Sofia Vargas, who suffers from short bowel syndrome, depends on highly specialized medical care and 14-hour daily intravenous feeding to survive.

Sofia and her parents, Deysi Vargas and her husband, were allowed to enter the United States in 2023 under humanitarian parole. Their entry was granted specifically so she could receive treatment at Children's Hospital Los Angeles — a level of care not available in their home country of Mexico. Over the past two years, Sofia’s condition has stabilized, and doctors report that she has shown signs of recovery thanks to consistent access to this advanced care.

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But in April 2025, under renewed Trump administration policy, the Vargas family’s parole was revoked. They were ordered to self-deport — despite Sofia’s ongoing, life-threatening condition and the absence of similar care facilities in Mexico. If forced to leave, doctors say Sofia could die within days due to the inability to continue her TPN (total parenteral nutrition) regimen.