LEITCHFIELD, Kentucky — A Louisville woman with sickle cell disease was released from federal immigration custody Friday after her family and a member of Congress raised concerns that she was not receiving essential medical care.
Sarafinah Bukirwa, 31, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents July 22 at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport while traveling to a sickle cell conference. She was transferred to the Grayson County Detention Center, where her brother, Isaac Kabunga, alleged that she sometimes received incomplete medication or medicine diluted in water.
A federal judge ordered Bukirwa released, and her family paid a $1,500 bond. She was admitted to a hospital for treatment after leaving custody, according to local reporting.
Bukirwa came legally from Uganda with work authorization, operates a nonprofit supporting people with sickle cell disease and has a pending asylum case. Her family said she had been hospitalized for a medical crisis one day before her arrest.
Grayson County Jailer Jason Woosley previously denied that Bukirwa was deprived of treatment, saying she received all prescribed medications.
Rep. Morgan McGarvey welcomed her release but said many noncriminal detainees remain confined in Kentucky facilities. Approximately 1,200 people are being held for ICE across about 10 Kentucky jails, which receive federal payments for housing them.
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