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Downloaded from
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♪♪
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
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♪♪
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♪♪
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-So, what's Ocilla like?
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-Um, I mean, it's just --
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It's a quiet, peaceful town.
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People will tend to
their business and yours, too.
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[ Both laugh ]
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You know, small town,
population about 3,400.
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Just, a lot of people
are attached to farms.
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We -- We take our football
pretty seriously.
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♪♪
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We're passing the hospital
here on the left.
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There's Irwin County Hospital.
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We're just a nice place to live,
a nice place to be,
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and try to keep things quiet.
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And then every once in a while,
something happens
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that gets national attention.
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And unfortunately,
it's not for the nice,
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laid-back quality of life
we have here.
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-Ocilla is a small,
unassuming town
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in Southern Georgia
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where a nightmare scandal
is unraveling.
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A growing number of women say
guards from an ICE facility
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brought them into
a local hospital, shackled,
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and then a gynecologist
named Dr. Mahendra Amin
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gave them unneeded surgery
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without first telling them
or getting informed consent.
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We've been investigating
these allegations for months.
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After an initial whistleblower
complaint claimed
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that Amin performed
mass hysterectomies,
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Congress called on three
federal agencies to investigate.
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To date, it's still ongoing,
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and most of these women say
they still don't know
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what procedures they underwent
and why.
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This is Irwin County
Detention Center.
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This is where many of the women
who have received
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these controversial surgeries
are and were detained.
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I don't see any women,
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but I think
we should just go talk to them.
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What's your sense
of what's going on?
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The female detainee
told you that?
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Oh, I see. How you doing?
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-Could you guys kind of
step back for me?
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-Lawyers filed
a class-action lawsuit
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on behalf of 14 Amin patients
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with sworn testimony
from more than 40 women.
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It alleges
these gynecologic procedures
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amount to sexual assault,
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and the women who spoke out
faced brutal retaliation.
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Immigration lawyer Amelia Wilson
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is one of the lead attorneys
behind the lawsuit.
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-A lot of women didn't know
or understand
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what had happened
to their bodies.
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There were many women
who were having procedures done
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that they did not need
and that were invasive,
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meaning that there was
a surgery involved,
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or they were placed
under anesthesia.
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And many of the women
did not consent to it.
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It's not that they were
saying no to the procedure.
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It's that no one ever explained
to them what the procedure was.
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-There was no informed consent.
-Exactly.
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Those are the main allegations,
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that they were victims of crimes
committed against them,
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that they sought to come forward
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to speak out about
what had happened to them,
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and as a result,
they were retaliated against.
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And the retaliation
took multiple forms.
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A lot of women were threatened
with isolation, for example.
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"If you're speaking out
to the media,
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we're going to take away
your tablet
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so you can't communicate
with your family."
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But to sever their access to
their children or their families
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was absolutely eviscerating
for them.
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-Soon after this lawsuit
was filed,
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ICE temporarily released all of
the women who were named in it,
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including a 37-year-old woman
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who's now living
outside of Atlanta,
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We've been in touch with a woman
named Mbeti Ndonga
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for months now.
We started talking to her
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when she was still inside
Irwin County Detention Center.
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She's back home
at her parents' house,
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and we're here
to check in on her.
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♪♪
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-These are just pictures
of my -- my dad.
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He coached soccer for us.
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And we got acclimated
to the American society
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very easily.
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-Mbeti came to the U.S.
from Kenya as a toddler.
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She had a very
American childhood --
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"Saved by the Bell," mac
and cheese, and soccer games.
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Is there a part of you that
walked into the detention center
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and just thought, "How am I
in ICE custody right now?"
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-I couldn't really believe it.
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The very first time
I was locked up in ICE,
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it was like a surreal dungeon.
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Like you walked in, and...
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there was l-loud noises,
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the slamming of the doors,
the echoing in the halls.
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-Mbeti landed in ICE custody
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after her life started to spiral
in her early 20s.
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She wasn't being treated
for schizoaffective disorder.
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Her green card expired.
She committed two felonies
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and landed
at a detention center.
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Two months later,
she was taken to see a doctor
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for her heavy periods.
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-I thought
that I would be getting
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a-a Depo shot,
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because that's what --
That was my regimen.
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That's what was prescribed
by a previous doctor.
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-So basically, it's --
it can act as contraception,
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but it can also help
with symptoms
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like heavy bleeding,
for instance.
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-Right.
-And had that worked for you
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in the past?
-Yeah, it worked for me.
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And I don't know why
the doctor didn't re-suggest it.
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-In her records, Amin wrote
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that Mbeti didn't respond
to a Depo shot,
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but the records don't show
he ever tried it.
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Instead, he's scheduled
a dilation and curettage,
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or D&C,
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a medical procedure that removes
tissue from the uterus.
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-The nurse, she asked me
if I was getting a hysterectomy.
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I said, "No, ma'am,
I'm getting a D&C."
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She asked again.
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I remember being
really annoyed with her
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that I had to, like,
explain to myself,
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"I'm not -- I'm not wanting
to take out my womb.
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I don't know why you're asking
about a hysterectomy."
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Moments before
I was supposed to go under,
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she asked both -- both me
and -- and the other lady.
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-Another detainee?
-Another -- Yeah,
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another detainee, if we were
having hysterectomies.
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-Did you turn to the other
detainee next to you
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and -- and say anything?
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-Yeah, I mean, I was like,
what did we get ourselves into?
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-And so, at what point
did you realize
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you had actually had surgery,
not just a D&C -- surgery?
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-I woke up, and they said,
"Be careful getting up."
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And I was like --
I'm kind of like, "Why?"
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And then I-I touched my body,
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and I had three incisions,
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one on my side,
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one in my belly button,
and one on my other side.
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The surgery and the procedure
isn't even half the story.
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Later, I ended up
getting a staph infection
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from that procedure,
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and I never got a second
follow-up with doctors.
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-You never had another
follow-up appointment?
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-I never had a follow-up
appointment with Dr. Amin.
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-Records show that a follow-up
appointment was scheduled
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for two weeks later,
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but don't show whether
that visit ever took place.
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-♪ Season to celebrate ♪
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-Then, seven weeks later,
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Mbeti tested positive
for a staph infection.
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While Mbeti did sign
some consent forms
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before her surgery
in August 2019,
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she says she didn't understand
what she was signing.
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Now, a year and a half later,
Mbeti still doesn't know
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if she had a hysterectomy
or not.
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-It's just heartbreaking.
You know what I'm saying? To --
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And that's something
she's always wanted,
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just to have kids and, like,
you know, to have --
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So the fact that
that might have been,
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like, stripped away from her
is -- It's heartbreaking,
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and it's maddening.
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And I hope that they didn't.
You know what I'm saying?
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I really hope
that they went in there
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and did the surgery
they were supposed to do,
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that they said
they were going to do.
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-You know, to be honest,
I've brushed over the detail.
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I remember running across an
article, it was earlier in 2020,
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thinking,
"Wow, that's horrible."
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But then actually finding out
that my sister is involved,
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I don't want to know
the details,
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because, as her little brother,
you feel --
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You know, the more information
I learn about it,
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the angrier I get.
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♪♪
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-What has been
your greatest fear?
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-Not being able to
do what a normal mother does,
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you know? Have children,
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watch them grow, and...
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I mean, that's
a very sacred thing,
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and I-I feel like
it's been kind of
189
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threatened, immensely.
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-After Mbeti
and countless other women
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suffered what they consider
medical torture,
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they felt the worst
had to be over,
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until the week of the U.S.
presidential election,
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when they suddenly
faced their worst fear.
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While the world was transfixed
196
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by the most heated political
contest in generations,
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ICE began quietly scheduling
these women for deportation
198
00:09:58,932 --> 00:10:01,301
before many of them
had testified,
199
00:10:01,301 --> 00:10:05,672
something Congress specifically
told ICE not to do.
200
00:10:21,554 --> 00:10:23,323
Yanira Oldaker
was brought to the U.S.
201
00:10:23,323 --> 00:10:25,225
when she was just 3 years old.
202
00:10:25,225 --> 00:10:26,593
She says when she saw Amin,
203
00:10:26,593 --> 00:10:28,995
he gave her
a transvaginal ultrasound.
204
00:10:28,995 --> 00:10:31,197
She says she was rough
and caused her pain
205
00:10:31,197 --> 00:10:33,967
and that she bled
for days afterward.
206
00:10:39,672 --> 00:10:41,908
After this call, Yanira became
one of the women
207
00:10:41,908 --> 00:10:43,309
that was temporarily released
208
00:10:43,309 --> 00:10:45,445
as part of
the class-action lawsuit.
209
00:10:45,445 --> 00:10:47,147
She's the lead plaintiff.
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00:10:47,147 --> 00:10:50,650
You and your team
were working overnight.
211
00:10:50,650 --> 00:10:52,552
I mean, racing
against the clock,
212
00:10:52,552 --> 00:10:54,721
while Yanira, meanwhile,
was put in a bus
213
00:10:54,721 --> 00:10:57,056
and was on the way
to her deportation flight.
214
00:10:57,056 --> 00:11:00,793
-That's exactly right.
The team worked without stop.
215
00:11:00,793 --> 00:11:02,962
We were just like,
"We have to get something,
216
00:11:02,962 --> 00:11:04,397
like a stay of removal,
217
00:11:04,397 --> 00:11:06,432
temporary restraining order,
anything we can."
218
00:11:06,432 --> 00:11:09,102
We got in touch
with her deportation officer,
219
00:11:09,102 --> 00:11:12,171
and he said that her removal
had been stopped.
220
00:11:12,171 --> 00:11:13,806
-When ICE does something
like that, I mean,
221
00:11:13,806 --> 00:11:15,575
how does it affect
a federal investigation
222
00:11:15,575 --> 00:11:17,777
when these are potential
key witnesses?
223
00:11:17,777 --> 00:11:21,514
-ICE has a policy
to not remove people
224
00:11:21,514 --> 00:11:24,217
who are part
of an investigation.
225
00:11:24,217 --> 00:11:26,986
But we also know that
during the Trump years,
226
00:11:26,986 --> 00:11:29,556
that policy was
not really followed.
227
00:11:29,556 --> 00:11:32,825
I mean, we know even based
on our experience with Mbeti,
228
00:11:32,825 --> 00:11:36,996
when I spoke to ICE
and said she is a victim, "A,"
229
00:11:36,996 --> 00:11:41,401
"B," she is a witness, and, "C,"
she's a potential plaintiff.
230
00:11:41,401 --> 00:11:42,969
Why are you removing her?
231
00:11:42,969 --> 00:11:47,840
The response from ICE was,
"Our job is to remove people."
232
00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:49,275
-ICE denies any allegation
233
00:11:49,275 --> 00:11:51,444
that they attempted
to impede the investigation
234
00:11:51,444 --> 00:11:53,613
by deporting women.
235
00:11:53,613 --> 00:11:56,583
The only thing protecting Mbeti
from immediate deportation
236
00:11:56,583 --> 00:11:59,185
at this point
is the ongoing litigation.
237
00:11:59,185 --> 00:12:00,386
And so far,
238
00:12:00,386 --> 00:12:03,223
the Biden administration
hasn't intervened.
239
00:12:03,223 --> 00:12:06,359
Are you concerned that
if her protections are lifted,
240
00:12:06,359 --> 00:12:07,760
that she could be deported?
241
00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:12,732
-100%, because just before
this litigation really took off,
242
00:12:12,732 --> 00:12:16,536
she was at imminent risk
of removal.
243
00:12:16,536 --> 00:12:18,037
-I just don't want her
to go away again.
244
00:12:18,037 --> 00:12:19,405
I don't want her to be locked
in a cage.
245
00:12:19,405 --> 00:12:21,608
I don't want her
to be alone in Kenya.
246
00:12:21,608 --> 00:12:23,443
Feeling that Mbeti
was, like, isolated
247
00:12:23,443 --> 00:12:26,012
and feeling like she was
going through this by herself,
248
00:12:26,012 --> 00:12:28,381
that's the worst.
249
00:12:28,381 --> 00:12:30,750
-For me, it was -- It was, uh --
250
00:12:32,919 --> 00:12:36,155
It was pretty good
having both my kids here.
251
00:12:36,155 --> 00:12:37,857
-Mm-hmm.
252
00:12:44,130 --> 00:12:47,900
-She sang ABCs to my son for...
253
00:12:47,900 --> 00:12:49,402
long time on the phone,
254
00:12:49,402 --> 00:12:53,473
so to have that in person and my
daughter also be a part of that
255
00:12:53,473 --> 00:12:55,041
was --
256
00:12:55,041 --> 00:12:58,077
[ Sighs ]
257
00:12:58,077 --> 00:13:01,881
Ah, man. I'm sorry, guys.
258
00:13:01,881 --> 00:13:03,449
My children
mean the world to me,
259
00:13:03,449 --> 00:13:05,385
so it's good to see them happy
260
00:13:05,385 --> 00:13:08,221
and experience something
with their aunt, you know?
261
00:13:08,221 --> 00:13:11,758
And every day since
has been great.
262
00:13:11,758 --> 00:13:14,093
-We've spoken with women
in six different countries,
263
00:13:14,093 --> 00:13:16,629
from Jamaica
to El Salvador to Canada,
264
00:13:16,629 --> 00:13:19,699
who were deported
after seeing Amin.
265
00:13:19,699 --> 00:13:21,668
Some of them still
haven't been contacted
266
00:13:21,668 --> 00:13:23,436
by federal investigators,
267
00:13:23,436 --> 00:13:27,106
begging the question, just
how many women are out there?
268
00:13:27,106 --> 00:13:29,208
Why is it hard to know
exactly how many women
269
00:13:29,208 --> 00:13:30,443
have been affected?
270
00:13:30,443 --> 00:13:32,612
-We're talking about
a deportation machine
271
00:13:32,612 --> 00:13:34,013
or conveyor belt.
272
00:13:34,013 --> 00:13:37,817
So all these women who came
through the detention center
273
00:13:37,817 --> 00:13:41,654
and saw this doctor
is almost incalculable.
274
00:13:45,425 --> 00:13:46,859
-We tracked down a woman
named Yuridia
275
00:13:46,859 --> 00:13:48,661
who was deported just three days
after she had surgery by Amin
276
00:13:48,661 --> 00:13:50,129
in August 2020.
277
00:13:50,129 --> 00:13:53,933
She's a single mom of six young
daughters and, like many others,
278
00:13:53,933 --> 00:13:57,603
hasn't been contacted to testify
in the federal investigation.
279
00:14:05,578 --> 00:14:07,113
-Okay.
280
00:14:28,167 --> 00:14:30,336
Sí.
281
00:14:30,336 --> 00:14:31,471
[ Speaking Spanish ]
282
00:14:31,471 --> 00:14:33,039
-Once Yuridia arrived
in the U.S.,
283
00:14:33,039 --> 00:14:35,775
she found work
and started a family.
284
00:14:35,775 --> 00:14:38,378
But soon after, her partner
became abusive,
285
00:14:38,378 --> 00:14:41,180
leading to a series
of domestic violence incidents.
286
00:14:41,180 --> 00:14:44,050
In one altercation, Yuridia ran
to the neighbor's house.
287
00:14:44,050 --> 00:14:45,985
They called the police.
288
00:14:45,985 --> 00:14:48,254
When they arrived,
Yuridia was arrested.
289
00:14:48,254 --> 00:14:50,490
Her partner was not.
290
00:15:48,514 --> 00:15:50,516
Her daughters,
all U.S. citizens,
291
00:15:50,516 --> 00:15:52,485
were eventually picked up
by her sister
292
00:15:52,485 --> 00:15:55,588
and brought to Mexico.
293
00:15:55,588 --> 00:15:57,056
What was your first memory
294
00:15:57,056 --> 00:15:59,559
of walking into
Irwin County Detention Center?
295
00:16:07,099 --> 00:16:10,536
Why did you originally see
the doctor when you were there?
296
00:16:17,143 --> 00:16:19,645
So you reported
that you had rib pain.
297
00:16:19,645 --> 00:16:22,582
I guess, like, how did that
get you to the gynecologist?
298
00:16:43,903 --> 00:16:45,805
Yuridia says
at her next appointment,
299
00:16:45,805 --> 00:16:48,541
she was told she would
have to have surgery.
300
00:17:25,845 --> 00:17:29,482
I have your -- some of
your medical records here.
301
00:17:29,482 --> 00:17:33,753
When you first went to see
Dr. Amin, did you have --
302
00:17:33,753 --> 00:17:35,288
and I'm listing the symptoms
303
00:17:35,288 --> 00:17:37,490
that are --
that are listed here --
304
00:17:37,490 --> 00:17:40,159
Did you have chronic
pelvic pain?
305
00:17:40,159 --> 00:17:43,195
The second diagnosis that he has
here is a medical term
306
00:17:43,195 --> 00:17:46,198
that means basically
that you had a very heavy period
307
00:17:46,198 --> 00:17:48,868
that lasted longer than normal.
Is that true?
308
00:17:54,006 --> 00:17:56,742
The next one is that --
It's a medical term
309
00:17:56,742 --> 00:17:59,445
for -- for pain
during menstruation.
310
00:17:59,445 --> 00:18:00,947
Like not more than usual
311
00:18:00,947 --> 00:18:02,882
or not -- nothing
out of the ordinary.
312
00:18:22,935 --> 00:18:24,503
-[ Speaks Spanish ]
-[ Chuckles ]
313
00:18:24,503 --> 00:18:27,006
-In the last six months,
Yuridia's attorneys have been
314
00:18:27,006 --> 00:18:29,241
working to overturn
her immigration case,
315
00:18:29,241 --> 00:18:32,044
which would allow her to return
to the U.S. with her daughters
316
00:18:32,044 --> 00:18:34,714
and fight for a chance
at a green card.
317
00:18:34,714 --> 00:18:37,316
While legal precedent shows
the chance of her making it back
318
00:18:37,316 --> 00:18:39,619
is very slim,
her lawyer is confident
319
00:18:39,619 --> 00:18:41,754
that she has a shot.
320
00:19:06,946 --> 00:19:08,247
-[ Chuckles ]
321
00:19:19,325 --> 00:19:21,861
♪♪
322
00:19:26,665 --> 00:19:28,601
-Aah!
323
00:19:34,106 --> 00:19:36,442
-This story became the target
of intense political debate,
324
00:19:36,442 --> 00:19:39,445
with Democrats calling for ICE
to halt deportations
325
00:19:39,445 --> 00:19:42,548
and Republicans calling
into question the allegations.
326
00:19:42,548 --> 00:19:47,920
-The AP's review did not find
evidence of mass hysterectomies.
327
00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:50,256
-A team of the country's
top OB-GYNs
328
00:19:50,256 --> 00:19:52,291
determined that
while they did not find
329
00:19:52,291 --> 00:19:54,794
that Amin performed
mass hysterectomies,
330
00:19:54,794 --> 00:19:59,665
he did perform numerous
unneeded gynecologic procedures.
331
00:19:59,665 --> 00:20:02,334
They reviewed more than
3,000 pages of medical records
332
00:20:02,334 --> 00:20:04,470
for 19 women who saw him
333
00:20:04,470 --> 00:20:07,573
and presented
their findings to Congress.
334
00:20:07,573 --> 00:20:10,076
So, you were part of the
independent medical review team.
335
00:20:10,076 --> 00:20:11,544
What did you find?
336
00:20:11,544 --> 00:20:13,913
-One of the first patterns
that we saw
337
00:20:13,913 --> 00:20:17,917
was just basically
overly aggressive,
338
00:20:17,917 --> 00:20:20,186
sometimes un-indicated care.
339
00:20:20,186 --> 00:20:23,189
And sometimes,
that did involve procedures,
340
00:20:23,189 --> 00:20:24,924
as well as surgical procedures,
341
00:20:24,924 --> 00:20:28,928
so, in-office procedures
like transvaginal ultrasounds
342
00:20:28,928 --> 00:20:31,097
that, you know,
weren't really indicated,
343
00:20:31,097 --> 00:20:33,199
as well as even
surgical procedures
344
00:20:33,199 --> 00:20:36,869
like laparoscopic procedures
that weren't always indicated.
345
00:20:36,869 --> 00:20:39,638
-You say it wasn't indicated.
Does that mean
346
00:20:39,638 --> 00:20:42,641
there was no medical reason?
It wasn't medically necessary?
347
00:20:42,641 --> 00:20:44,977
-Correct.
So, not medically necessary.
348
00:20:44,977 --> 00:20:47,079
Any time you take a woman
to the operating room
349
00:20:47,079 --> 00:20:48,981
and perform a surgery,
there's risks.
350
00:20:48,981 --> 00:20:50,950
You can have bleeding,
infections,
351
00:20:50,950 --> 00:20:53,452
damage to nearby organs
like the bladder or the bowel,
352
00:20:53,452 --> 00:20:57,690
damage to nerves,
surgical site infections, pain.
353
00:20:57,690 --> 00:20:59,825
Another more disturbing thing
that we saw
354
00:20:59,825 --> 00:21:02,895
was just lack of providing
informed consent.
355
00:21:02,895 --> 00:21:04,930
We talk about
informed consent a lot,
356
00:21:04,930 --> 00:21:06,999
and sometimes, it is diminished
357
00:21:06,999 --> 00:21:09,535
to just signing
a piece of paper.
358
00:21:09,535 --> 00:21:13,639
But the actual consent process
involves an understanding
359
00:21:13,639 --> 00:21:17,243
and a discussion between
the patient and the physician.
360
00:21:17,243 --> 00:21:19,712
We didn't see evidence of that.
361
00:21:19,712 --> 00:21:22,281
-When you learned the Dr. Amin
wasn't board-certified
362
00:21:22,281 --> 00:21:23,649
and was doing these surgeries
363
00:21:23,649 --> 00:21:25,050
contracted by
the federal government,
364
00:21:25,050 --> 00:21:26,719
did it surprise you?
365
00:21:26,719 --> 00:21:28,354
-It did.
366
00:21:28,354 --> 00:21:30,222
-And why is that?
367
00:21:30,222 --> 00:21:32,491
-For a vulnerable
population of women,
368
00:21:32,491 --> 00:21:35,294
I would think
that our government
369
00:21:35,294 --> 00:21:40,533
would be providing them
with appropriate care.
370
00:21:40,533 --> 00:21:44,170
I am concerned when I hear
371
00:21:44,170 --> 00:21:47,907
that this doctor
was not board-certified,
372
00:21:47,907 --> 00:21:51,076
because I don't think that
that would be a premier doctor
373
00:21:51,076 --> 00:21:53,279
for a woman to be seeing.
374
00:21:53,279 --> 00:21:56,549
-In a series of statements,
Amin denied all wrongdoing.
375
00:21:56,549 --> 00:21:58,517
He and his lawyer
declined multiple requests
376
00:21:58,517 --> 00:22:01,287
for an interview,
citing ongoing litigation.
377
00:22:01,287 --> 00:22:02,521
One of the independent doctors
378
00:22:02,521 --> 00:22:06,325
said it's possible
Amin saved a patient's life.
379
00:22:06,325 --> 00:22:08,794
Dr. Amin's lawyer,
in a statement that he sent us,
380
00:22:08,794 --> 00:22:11,463
he said that the records
that you all had access to
381
00:22:11,463 --> 00:22:15,401
to do this review were severely
incomplete at best.
382
00:22:15,401 --> 00:22:17,002
He said that because of that,
383
00:22:17,002 --> 00:22:19,638
the review couldn't have been
conclusive or accurate.
384
00:22:19,638 --> 00:22:21,006
What is your response to that?
385
00:22:21,006 --> 00:22:22,708
-Well, yeah, I would certainly
386
00:22:22,708 --> 00:22:24,710
love to see more
medical records,
387
00:22:24,710 --> 00:22:27,746
but from the medical records
that we did have,
388
00:22:27,746 --> 00:22:30,482
we were able to come up
with the conclusion.
389
00:22:30,482 --> 00:22:33,285
So I don't think any amount
of medical records
390
00:22:33,285 --> 00:22:36,322
would corroborate
medical necessity
391
00:22:36,322 --> 00:22:38,791
for many of these procedures
that were performed.
392
00:22:38,791 --> 00:22:42,428
But I would welcome
seeing and reviewing
393
00:22:42,428 --> 00:22:45,564
a complete medical record
for these women.
394
00:22:45,564 --> 00:22:47,666
♪♪
395
00:22:47,666 --> 00:22:49,869
-A group of independent doctors
has been reviewing
396
00:22:49,869 --> 00:22:52,905
a lot of the medical records
of these female patients.
397
00:22:52,905 --> 00:22:55,908
And they say the linchpin
of this investigation
398
00:22:55,908 --> 00:22:57,876
are the pathology reports.
399
00:22:57,876 --> 00:23:01,680
We've tracked down the
pathologist's courier,
400
00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:05,451
who also happens to be
the pathologist's daughter.
401
00:23:05,451 --> 00:23:08,220
She had a lot of insights on
how this whole operation works,
402
00:23:08,220 --> 00:23:11,056
because she is the person
who picks up the specimens
403
00:23:11,056 --> 00:23:12,658
from Dr. Amin's hospital
404
00:23:12,658 --> 00:23:15,928
and transports them
to her father's lab.
405
00:23:15,928 --> 00:23:19,265
-We are going to Irwin County
Hospital in Ocilla, Georgia,
406
00:23:19,265 --> 00:23:21,333
and that's where
I pick up specimens.
407
00:23:21,333 --> 00:23:24,803
And I bring those back
to Crisp County Hospital
408
00:23:24,803 --> 00:23:28,474
for Dr. Latham
to look at and diagnose.
409
00:23:28,474 --> 00:23:29,975
And then we send those diagnoses
410
00:23:29,975 --> 00:23:32,611
back to Irwin County
Hospital patients.
411
00:23:32,611 --> 00:23:34,580
-We reached out to a number
of medical professionals
412
00:23:34,580 --> 00:23:36,982
who were in some way involved
with these surgeries
413
00:23:36,982 --> 00:23:38,350
or specimens.
414
00:23:38,350 --> 00:23:41,987
Arden Latham was the only one
who agreed to talk to us.
415
00:23:41,987 --> 00:23:43,555
The specimens she transfers
416
00:23:43,555 --> 00:23:47,126
are from general population
and detainee patients.
417
00:23:47,126 --> 00:23:48,661
You get to the hospital.
-Yes.
418
00:23:48,661 --> 00:23:51,030
-And then what do you do?
-So, I'd walk over there
419
00:23:51,030 --> 00:23:52,898
and go into the lab
at that point.
420
00:23:52,898 --> 00:23:55,267
And they have all
the specimens out for me.
421
00:23:55,267 --> 00:23:58,237
I just take the bags,
and as I put each jar,
422
00:23:58,237 --> 00:24:00,939
each bag in the bucket,
I, you know,
423
00:24:00,939 --> 00:24:04,276
mark off a list and initial
that patient's paperwork.
424
00:24:04,276 --> 00:24:05,511
-Right, so you're
just verifying,
425
00:24:05,511 --> 00:24:07,012
"Yes, I have this organ."
-Yes.
426
00:24:07,012 --> 00:24:08,814
-"Yes, I have this cyst."
-Yes.
427
00:24:08,814 --> 00:24:11,850
-On an average week, and I know
it's different week to week,
428
00:24:11,850 --> 00:24:13,419
what are you picking up?
429
00:24:13,419 --> 00:24:16,922
-Ovarian cysts,
ovaries, sometimes,
430
00:24:16,922 --> 00:24:18,490
fallopian tubes,
431
00:24:18,490 --> 00:24:20,960
any kind of tumor or cyst
that has to do with,
432
00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:22,728
you know,
the female reproductive system.
433
00:24:22,728 --> 00:24:25,597
-Is that consistently
for the last couple years?
434
00:24:25,597 --> 00:24:27,766
-Yeah, pretty much.
-But when looking at the names
435
00:24:27,766 --> 00:24:29,968
and when checking off,
you know, each patient,
436
00:24:29,968 --> 00:24:31,403
did you ever notice,
I don't know,
437
00:24:31,403 --> 00:24:33,806
any kind of pattern
that seemed unusual?
438
00:24:33,806 --> 00:24:38,177
-There are a lot
of Spanish names.
439
00:24:38,177 --> 00:24:40,412
A lot of that, you know,
can come with the area,
440
00:24:40,412 --> 00:24:43,682
but it does seem
a little bit disproportionate
441
00:24:43,682 --> 00:24:46,618
for the entire population
of Ocilla,
442
00:24:46,618 --> 00:24:48,020
demographically speaking.
443
00:24:48,020 --> 00:24:50,289
-At what point did you start
to piece together
444
00:24:50,289 --> 00:24:52,391
why you were seeing
so many Hispanic names?
445
00:24:52,391 --> 00:24:54,193
-Um, not until recently,
446
00:24:54,193 --> 00:24:56,428
'cause I didn't --
I didn't really know
447
00:24:56,428 --> 00:25:01,133
that there was an ICE facility
until like a month ago or so.
448
00:25:01,133 --> 00:25:03,936
-Wow.
-Yeah, it's total news to me.
449
00:25:03,936 --> 00:25:06,238
So once I -- once I heard
that there was an ICE facility,
450
00:25:06,238 --> 00:25:09,041
I was like, "That's why there
are so many Hispanic names."
451
00:25:09,041 --> 00:25:12,544
But before that,
I had never known why.
452
00:25:12,544 --> 00:25:14,680
-When Arden brings the specimens
to the lab,
453
00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:17,349
her dad then decides whether
the tissues are cancerous
454
00:25:17,349 --> 00:25:20,219
or otherwise need to be removed.
455
00:25:20,219 --> 00:25:22,554
Was there a disconnect at times
456
00:25:22,554 --> 00:25:25,624
between what Dr. Amin's
diagnosis was
457
00:25:25,624 --> 00:25:29,361
and what your father was able
to discover or not discover?
458
00:25:29,361 --> 00:25:31,730
-I think definitely there was
sometimes a, you know,
459
00:25:31,730 --> 00:25:34,366
"I'm not finding this."
And, um --
460
00:25:34,366 --> 00:25:38,270
And -- You know, and again,
there was a question of whether
461
00:25:38,270 --> 00:25:41,173
a removal was needed or not.
So there was always a question
462
00:25:41,173 --> 00:25:43,709
of whether he was overzealous
in that realm.
463
00:25:43,709 --> 00:25:46,211
-And those were conversations
that, I mean,
464
00:25:46,211 --> 00:25:49,448
you guys were having before
this story became national news.
465
00:25:49,448 --> 00:25:52,518
-Oh, yes, absolutely.
466
00:25:52,518 --> 00:25:54,553
-When this story came up,
467
00:25:54,553 --> 00:25:58,524
did you sort of feel the weight
of the types of specimens
468
00:25:58,524 --> 00:25:59,958
that you were transporting?
469
00:25:59,958 --> 00:26:02,528
-If you're used to
the same thing
470
00:26:02,528 --> 00:26:04,763
over and over and over again,
you don't think about it.
471
00:26:04,763 --> 00:26:06,999
There's no, like,
depth of thought of --
472
00:26:06,999 --> 00:26:10,436
I mean, like, I knew that I had
to drive safely and carefully
473
00:26:10,436 --> 00:26:12,905
so that I don't, like,
spill anything.
474
00:26:12,905 --> 00:26:16,508
So that does change, you know,
when you think of,
475
00:26:16,508 --> 00:26:19,845
what if the -- What if this
person didn't want this done?
476
00:26:19,845 --> 00:26:21,313
And what if this is something
477
00:26:21,313 --> 00:26:23,782
that someone now
is traumatized over,
478
00:26:23,782 --> 00:26:25,851
and I'm just driving it around?
479
00:26:25,851 --> 00:26:27,920
-Why are you doing
this interview now?
480
00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:31,156
-Um, I think it's
the right thing to do.
481
00:26:31,156 --> 00:26:34,626
Ocilla being so heavily
Caucasian and so rural
482
00:26:34,626 --> 00:26:37,796
and in the the Deep South,
essentially,
483
00:26:37,796 --> 00:26:41,066
um, the political opinion
of immigrants
484
00:26:41,066 --> 00:26:43,802
is very, very negative.
485
00:26:43,802 --> 00:26:47,039
There's a tendency to forget
that people are human beings.
486
00:26:47,039 --> 00:26:53,212
And I just want to do what I can
to help justice be served.
487
00:26:53,212 --> 00:26:55,981
♪♪
488
00:26:55,981 --> 00:26:57,282
-Was there anything
that you learned
489
00:26:57,282 --> 00:26:59,685
from seeing
the pathology reports
490
00:26:59,685 --> 00:27:04,156
that allowed you to -- to draw
certain conclusions or findings?
491
00:27:04,156 --> 00:27:06,892
-I mean, the pathology reports
just corroborated the fact
492
00:27:06,892 --> 00:27:10,929
that procedures were being done
that were un-indicated --
493
00:27:10,929 --> 00:27:15,501
so, for example, the description
of a simple ovarian cyst
494
00:27:15,501 --> 00:27:19,238
at the time
of a laparoscopic procedure.
495
00:27:19,238 --> 00:27:23,108
Really no alarm bells
that this could be a precancer.
496
00:27:23,108 --> 00:27:25,377
And removing it
and sending it to pathology,
497
00:27:25,377 --> 00:27:27,679
it's corroborated
that it's a follicular cyst.
498
00:27:27,679 --> 00:27:29,948
So this is a normal portion
of someone's ovary
499
00:27:29,948 --> 00:27:31,950
that did not need to be removed.
500
00:27:36,121 --> 00:27:37,556
-We reached out to Arden's
parents for an interview.
501
00:27:37,556 --> 00:27:39,525
They refused to comment.
And Amin's lawyer
502
00:27:39,525 --> 00:27:42,561
didn't respond to questions
about Arden's account.
503
00:27:42,561 --> 00:27:45,531
But when we visited
the 3,000-person town of Ocilla,
504
00:27:45,531 --> 00:27:48,600
people were anxious to defend
their hometown doctor.
505
00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:52,004
The mayor of Ocilla, Matt Seale,
invited us to his local cafe
506
00:27:52,004 --> 00:27:55,407
with the hopes of shining
a positive light on his town.
507
00:27:55,407 --> 00:27:57,242
How did the community here react
508
00:27:57,242 --> 00:28:00,212
when this became,
you know, a national story?
509
00:28:00,212 --> 00:28:03,115
-I mean, obviously,
it was very provocative.
510
00:28:03,115 --> 00:28:06,652
So people were asking questions.
511
00:28:06,652 --> 00:28:10,756
But the sense I got was that
folks were immediately skeptical
512
00:28:10,756 --> 00:28:15,093
and just very unsure about, you
know, "What's all this about?
513
00:28:15,093 --> 00:28:16,562
This doesn't sound right."
514
00:28:16,562 --> 00:28:19,197
The way things
kind of get painted,
515
00:28:19,197 --> 00:28:21,667
it was as if there's
some kind of dungeon
516
00:28:21,667 --> 00:28:23,468
in the basement
of the detention center,
517
00:28:23,468 --> 00:28:25,103
and we're just lining people up
518
00:28:25,103 --> 00:28:27,539
and doing God-awful
things to them.
519
00:28:27,539 --> 00:28:30,676
-We have talked to many
other women who have said
520
00:28:30,676 --> 00:28:32,811
they did have procedures done
521
00:28:32,811 --> 00:28:34,513
that they felt
weren't consensual
522
00:28:34,513 --> 00:28:37,416
and they felt were
not necessary.
523
00:28:37,416 --> 00:28:38,650
-And I would just say
524
00:28:38,650 --> 00:28:40,452
if there's any kind of
allegation like that --
525
00:28:40,452 --> 00:28:43,155
I mean, any kind of allegation
of that -- of that kind
526
00:28:43,155 --> 00:28:45,724
should be taken seriously,
should be investigated.
527
00:28:45,724 --> 00:28:46,925
I mean, I wouldn't -- Again,
528
00:28:46,925 --> 00:28:48,994
and I don't think
there's any kind of,
529
00:28:48,994 --> 00:28:50,562
"Oh, well,
this may have happened.
530
00:28:50,562 --> 00:28:51,797
Let's sweep it under the rug."
531
00:28:51,797 --> 00:28:52,965
That's --
That's not the attitude
532
00:28:52,965 --> 00:28:54,499
of anybody in this community.
533
00:28:54,499 --> 00:28:58,337
But that's -- that's a far cry
from mass hysterectomies
534
00:28:58,337 --> 00:28:59,871
and the claims
of things happening
535
00:28:59,871 --> 00:29:01,773
actually at
the detention center.
536
00:29:01,773 --> 00:29:05,978
But we as a community probably
know him a little better
537
00:29:05,978 --> 00:29:08,080
than -- than people
from the outside coming in,
538
00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:09,514
no offense, with cameras
539
00:29:09,514 --> 00:29:11,516
and asking, you know,
tough questions.
540
00:29:11,516 --> 00:29:14,553
"Oh, these allegations, we need
to -- We need to dig into this."
541
00:29:14,553 --> 00:29:17,089
Well, the people
that supported him
542
00:29:17,089 --> 00:29:18,357
were the people
that knew him best,
543
00:29:18,357 --> 00:29:20,826
the people that
he delivered their babies.
544
00:29:20,826 --> 00:29:22,828
♪♪
545
00:29:22,828 --> 00:29:25,297
-Someone directed us
to a Facebook page
546
00:29:25,297 --> 00:29:27,532
called
"We Stand With Mahendra Amin,"
547
00:29:27,532 --> 00:29:29,768
which is fascinating.
Look at this.
548
00:29:29,768 --> 00:29:31,937
There are two
pregnant women here.
549
00:29:31,937 --> 00:29:33,905
They're wearing T-shirts
that say,
550
00:29:33,905 --> 00:29:36,408
"We stand with
Dr. Mahendra Amin."
551
00:29:36,408 --> 00:29:38,677
There are more than 1,500 people
552
00:29:38,677 --> 00:29:41,446
who are following it,
who like this page.
553
00:29:41,446 --> 00:29:44,349
There are only 10,000 people
in this county.
554
00:29:44,349 --> 00:29:46,551
♪♪
555
00:29:46,551 --> 00:29:50,122
-He delivered
two of my grandkids.
556
00:29:50,122 --> 00:29:51,523
-How did the community react
557
00:29:51,523 --> 00:29:53,492
when -- when he was accused
of -- of all this?
558
00:29:53,492 --> 00:29:56,795
-Well, a lot of people,
they didn't believe it anyway.
559
00:29:56,795 --> 00:29:59,131
They still go to him,
you know, like my daughter.
560
00:29:59,131 --> 00:30:02,668
She had heard it,
and she didn't believe it,
561
00:30:02,668 --> 00:30:04,569
'cause, you know,
she still went to him.
562
00:30:04,569 --> 00:30:07,105
-So he didn't really lose
any patients or --
563
00:30:07,105 --> 00:30:09,441
-No.
564
00:30:09,441 --> 00:30:12,044
-You guys have this sort of
national scandal
565
00:30:12,044 --> 00:30:14,179
that just landed
in your small town.
566
00:30:14,179 --> 00:30:16,782
What are your thoughts?
-People that was accusing him
567
00:30:16,782 --> 00:30:19,017
was of -- of Latino,
568
00:30:19,017 --> 00:30:20,852
which, there's nothing wrong
with that right there,
569
00:30:20,852 --> 00:30:22,821
but I don't know
if they misunderstand him
570
00:30:22,821 --> 00:30:24,456
communication-wise.
571
00:30:24,456 --> 00:30:26,692
Far as I know, I've never
572
00:30:26,692 --> 00:30:29,428
heard anybody say anything bad
about Dr. Amin.
573
00:30:29,428 --> 00:30:30,996
He's a good baby doctor and --
574
00:30:30,996 --> 00:30:33,031
-Would you, you know,
be open to the idea
575
00:30:33,031 --> 00:30:37,402
that maybe Dr. Amin has done
great things for families here
576
00:30:37,402 --> 00:30:38,503
in delivering babies
577
00:30:38,503 --> 00:30:40,038
and treating them well...
-He has, he has.
578
00:30:40,038 --> 00:30:44,710
-...but then also has maybe done
some unethical things, as well?
579
00:30:44,710 --> 00:30:48,213
-If he has, I-I-I had never
heard of it, seen it,
580
00:30:48,213 --> 00:30:50,749
or I-I --
581
00:30:50,749 --> 00:30:52,918
I'd have to see it
to believe it.
582
00:30:52,918 --> 00:30:56,988
♪♪
583
00:30:56,988 --> 00:30:59,091
[ Door bells jingle ]
-Thank you.
584
00:30:59,091 --> 00:31:01,393
-Why do you not believe
the allegations?
585
00:31:01,393 --> 00:31:04,262
-You don't hear anybody else
that's not in the prison
586
00:31:04,262 --> 00:31:06,031
saying anything. I think --
587
00:31:06,031 --> 00:31:08,467
I don't --
would still believe that.
588
00:31:08,467 --> 00:31:09,968
-What would be,
like, the incentive
589
00:31:09,968 --> 00:31:13,105
for somebody to say this
if it wasn't true?
590
00:31:13,105 --> 00:31:15,240
-To make money. To get money.
591
00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:20,011
To get their 15 minutes of fame.
592
00:31:20,011 --> 00:31:23,181
I just -- I just think
it's all made-up.
593
00:31:23,181 --> 00:31:25,050
-Mayor Matt,
as the town calls him,
594
00:31:25,050 --> 00:31:28,320
isn't surprised by the support.
He says Irwin County Hospital
595
00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:32,023
was at risk of going under,
and Amin basically saved it.
596
00:31:32,023 --> 00:31:36,228
-He may quite literally
have kept our hospital open
597
00:31:36,228 --> 00:31:38,563
when others around us
are closing,
598
00:31:38,563 --> 00:31:40,832
mostly through delivering
babies, like I said.
599
00:31:40,832 --> 00:31:44,035
So I think that's why you saw
the groundswell of support.
600
00:31:44,035 --> 00:31:47,639
People who knew him
knew the truth.
601
00:31:47,639 --> 00:31:48,807
-But lawyers for the plaintiffs
602
00:31:48,807 --> 00:31:50,776
say his motivation
is directly linked
603
00:31:50,776 --> 00:31:53,512
to him bringing
"business to Irwin County,"
604
00:31:53,512 --> 00:31:56,681
that he did these surgeries
to bring in more revenue.
605
00:31:56,681 --> 00:32:00,085
In 2015, Amin and the Hospital
Authority of Irwin County
606
00:32:00,085 --> 00:32:01,953
settled a lawsuit that alleged
607
00:32:01,953 --> 00:32:03,321
they billed
the federal government
608
00:32:03,321 --> 00:32:05,657
for false Medicare
and Medicaid claims,
609
00:32:05,657 --> 00:32:08,427
though there was
no determination of liability.
610
00:32:08,427 --> 00:32:11,930
In 2018, he started seeing
ICE detainees.
611
00:32:11,930 --> 00:32:13,932
Lawyers representing
Amin patients say
612
00:32:13,932 --> 00:32:17,202
by increasing the number
and types of procedures,
613
00:32:17,202 --> 00:32:20,138
he could bill the government
exponentially more.
614
00:32:20,138 --> 00:32:23,675
-I think Dr. Amin saw an
opportunity to -- to make money.
615
00:32:23,675 --> 00:32:25,443
So, first off, women,
nobody believes women
616
00:32:25,443 --> 00:32:27,145
when they say anything.
617
00:32:27,145 --> 00:32:30,115
They're immigrants.
They're in detention.
618
00:32:30,115 --> 00:32:32,083
It was a great
opportunity for him.
619
00:32:32,083 --> 00:32:35,053
And I'm afraid he's not
the only person out there
620
00:32:35,053 --> 00:32:40,559
that opportunistically seizes on
detained people to make money.
621
00:32:40,559 --> 00:32:42,060
-As calls
for the detention center
622
00:32:42,060 --> 00:32:44,696
to be shut down intensify,
locals argue
623
00:32:44,696 --> 00:32:46,531
it's the biggest
private employer,
624
00:32:46,531 --> 00:32:49,534
and their county heavily
relies on its revenue.
625
00:32:49,534 --> 00:32:51,169
How would the community
actually be affected
626
00:32:51,169 --> 00:32:52,938
if that detention center
went away?
627
00:32:52,938 --> 00:32:56,007
-When you have
a multimillion-dollar facility
628
00:32:56,007 --> 00:32:57,943
get -- get knocked down
in assessed value,
629
00:32:57,943 --> 00:32:59,644
and of course,
that has the trickle effect
630
00:32:59,644 --> 00:33:02,814
of less revenue
by a significant amount,
631
00:33:02,814 --> 00:33:04,349
yeah, that just --
that just affects everything.
632
00:33:04,349 --> 00:33:06,685
So, it's not even
just our ability
633
00:33:06,685 --> 00:33:08,086
to provide the normal services.
634
00:33:08,086 --> 00:33:10,488
It's, we want to advance.
We want to make things better.
635
00:33:10,488 --> 00:33:12,691
We want to provide
new amenities.
636
00:33:12,691 --> 00:33:15,827
And that just, you know, the --
the ripple effect there is --
637
00:33:15,827 --> 00:33:19,798
I don't know
if it can be overstated.
638
00:33:19,798 --> 00:33:21,999
-I've been to so many detention
centers in the United States.
639
00:33:21,999 --> 00:33:23,401
I know you have, too.
640
00:33:23,401 --> 00:33:26,605
They're very often
in rural areas,
641
00:33:26,605 --> 00:33:29,207
remote,
642
00:33:29,207 --> 00:33:31,376
places without a lot of work.
643
00:33:31,376 --> 00:33:35,847
But that is not a reason to keep
the detention center open --
644
00:33:35,847 --> 00:33:37,649
that people rely on it for work.
645
00:33:37,649 --> 00:33:40,352
I don't believe it is.
-Mm.
646
00:33:40,352 --> 00:33:43,388
-I don't believe
that you can justify
647
00:33:43,388 --> 00:33:47,492
keeping an institution open
that is evil
648
00:33:47,492 --> 00:33:52,764
because it it quells
or minimizes another evil,
649
00:33:52,764 --> 00:33:55,100
which is, like, poverty
and lack of education
650
00:33:55,100 --> 00:33:57,402
and lack of opportunity.
651
00:33:57,402 --> 00:34:00,305
-On May 20th, the Biden
administration intervened.
652
00:34:00,305 --> 00:34:02,307
They directed ICE
to end its contract
653
00:34:02,307 --> 00:34:05,510
with Irwin County Detention
Center as soon as possible,
654
00:34:05,510 --> 00:34:09,981
effectively guaranteeing that it
is shut down as an ICE facility.
655
00:34:09,981 --> 00:34:13,451
All of the female detainees
have already been removed.
656
00:34:19,891 --> 00:34:21,326
-In addition to the women
who have already been deported,
657
00:34:21,326 --> 00:34:23,295
we've also found
several other women
658
00:34:23,295 --> 00:34:25,297
now released
and living in the U.S.
659
00:34:25,297 --> 00:34:26,598
who saw Amin
660
00:34:26,598 --> 00:34:30,502
and still haven't been contacted
by federal investigators.
661
00:34:30,502 --> 00:34:32,003
-Hey!
662
00:34:32,003 --> 00:34:35,273
-One of those women
is an Anne Alobwede.
663
00:34:35,273 --> 00:34:37,108
-I'm good.
664
00:34:37,108 --> 00:34:39,577
How are you doing?
665
00:34:39,577 --> 00:34:43,281
Yeah, I know. [ Laughs ]
666
00:34:43,281 --> 00:34:46,284
I got out December 16th.
667
00:34:46,284 --> 00:34:48,853
-Oh, wow, that's --
-Right before Christmas. Yeah.
668
00:34:52,424 --> 00:34:54,693
Yes, ma'am, I did. That's...
669
00:34:54,693 --> 00:34:57,162
-Anne came to the U.S.
from Cameroon as a teenager.
670
00:34:57,162 --> 00:34:58,797
She was the patient
lying next to Mbeti
671
00:34:58,797 --> 00:35:01,166
on the day of their surgeries.
-22 months.
672
00:35:01,166 --> 00:35:04,936
-This is the first time they've
spoken since being released.
673
00:35:04,936 --> 00:35:08,306
-Are you having complications,
if I may ask?
674
00:35:13,845 --> 00:35:15,213
Really?
675
00:35:29,561 --> 00:35:31,062
Really?
676
00:35:40,305 --> 00:35:41,373
Yeah.
677
00:35:47,779 --> 00:35:50,281
Yeah, something went wrong,
because I --
678
00:35:50,281 --> 00:35:53,585
I was still having pain, and --
679
00:36:00,058 --> 00:36:01,559
Yeah.
680
00:36:03,962 --> 00:36:05,864
Yeah. Me, too.
681
00:36:05,864 --> 00:36:07,866
♪♪
682
00:36:07,866 --> 00:36:09,768
-For the first time
since her surgery,
683
00:36:09,768 --> 00:36:12,971
Mbeti has a doctor's appointment
to learn what happened to her.
684
00:36:12,971 --> 00:36:15,340
♪♪
685
00:36:15,340 --> 00:36:17,242
-I'm kind of nervous
686
00:36:17,242 --> 00:36:20,211
and a little bit anxious,
687
00:36:20,211 --> 00:36:24,115
so we'll see what kind
of information I can get.
688
00:36:24,115 --> 00:36:27,018
♪♪
689
00:36:27,018 --> 00:36:28,520
-This is a moment
690
00:36:28,520 --> 00:36:30,789
that all of these women
have been waiting for,
691
00:36:30,789 --> 00:36:33,625
you know,
just having an appointment
692
00:36:33,625 --> 00:36:35,026
after they leave
the ICE facility
693
00:36:35,026 --> 00:36:36,227
with an independent doctor
694
00:36:36,227 --> 00:36:38,329
who can just tell them
what happened to them
695
00:36:38,329 --> 00:36:40,165
and what their health status is.
696
00:36:40,165 --> 00:36:43,301
And specifically for Mbeti,
she has one big question.
697
00:36:43,301 --> 00:36:45,437
Will she be able to have kids?
698
00:37:14,332 --> 00:37:16,801
According to Mbeti's records
and Dr. Mueller,
699
00:37:16,801 --> 00:37:20,538
Mbeti was given
an unnecessary ultrasound, D&C,
700
00:37:20,538 --> 00:37:24,209
scar tissue removal,
laparoscopy, and cystectomy,
701
00:37:24,209 --> 00:37:26,711
the surgical removal
of a follicular cyst
702
00:37:26,711 --> 00:37:29,013
that didn't need to be removed.
703
00:37:29,013 --> 00:37:30,915
While Mbeti didn't get
a hysterectomy,
704
00:37:30,915 --> 00:37:33,985
she could still have trouble
carrying a pregnancy.
705
00:37:33,985 --> 00:37:37,388
-It's important to remember
that surgical procedures,
706
00:37:37,388 --> 00:37:39,824
even if they weren't
hysterectomy,
707
00:37:39,824 --> 00:37:44,996
can have bearing on
a woman's future fertility.
708
00:37:44,996 --> 00:37:48,399
-I had a look at the ultrasound,
709
00:37:48,399 --> 00:37:50,502
and if I were to get pregnant,
710
00:37:50,502 --> 00:37:54,272
I would have
a complicated pregnancy.
711
00:37:54,272 --> 00:37:58,076
And that's what I'm really
thinking in the back of my head.
712
00:37:58,076 --> 00:38:01,513
It was a relief to see
that I had my uterus.
713
00:38:03,515 --> 00:38:06,818
I know that I still have
a long way to go.
714
00:38:06,818 --> 00:38:10,989
♪♪
715
00:38:10,989 --> 00:38:14,893
I mean, being a mom is --
is almost every girl's dream.
716
00:38:14,893 --> 00:38:20,298
Having that threatened is --
is really very scary.
717
00:38:20,298 --> 00:38:22,667
-While the class-action
litigation is still pending,
718
00:38:22,667 --> 00:38:25,737
Mbeti's lawyers are working
to secure her a new visa
719
00:38:25,737 --> 00:38:27,772
which protects victims
of criminal activity
720
00:38:27,772 --> 00:38:30,141
who testify
in that investigation.
721
00:38:30,141 --> 00:38:31,709
If both are denied,
722
00:38:31,709 --> 00:38:34,345
Mbeti could be immediately
deported to Kenya,
723
00:38:34,345 --> 00:38:37,115
where she has no support system.
724
00:38:41,486 --> 00:38:42,921
-After an intense legal process,
725
00:38:42,921 --> 00:38:46,791
a U.S. judge agreed to reopen
Yuridia's immigration case,
726
00:38:46,791 --> 00:38:50,261
an outcome so rare that
experienced lawyers only see it
727
00:38:50,261 --> 00:38:52,797
a handful of times
in their career.
728
00:38:52,797 --> 00:38:54,632
This means that Yuridia
and her daughters
729
00:38:54,632 --> 00:38:58,703
can now legally reenter the U.S.
730
00:38:58,703 --> 00:39:01,973
We're back in Saltillo to visit
with Yuridia and her family.
731
00:39:01,973 --> 00:39:04,809
Against all odds,
Yuridia and her six daughters
732
00:39:04,809 --> 00:39:07,812
will be getting on
a flight tomorrow for the U.S.
733
00:39:07,812 --> 00:39:11,382
to start the process
to get permanent status.
734
00:39:24,529 --> 00:39:26,364
How are you feeling
about tomorrow?
735
00:39:40,144 --> 00:39:44,582
-♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
736
00:39:44,582 --> 00:39:46,551
♪ Happy birthday ♪
737
00:40:01,266 --> 00:40:03,101
-How do you imagine the moment
738
00:40:03,101 --> 00:40:06,237
when you step foot
back in the U.S.?
739
00:40:11,643 --> 00:40:13,244
-[ Speaks Spanish ]
740
00:40:39,470 --> 00:40:40,972
[ Laughs ]
741
00:40:40,972 --> 00:40:46,377
♪♪
742
00:40:46,377 --> 00:40:49,013
[ Man speaking indistinctly
over intercom ]
743
00:40:49,013 --> 00:40:54,252
♪♪
744
00:40:54,252 --> 00:40:59,457
♪♪
745
00:40:59,457 --> 00:41:02,360
-So, we're just getting out
of customs and baggage claim,
746
00:41:02,360 --> 00:41:05,296
and they haven't
made it out yet.
747
00:41:05,296 --> 00:41:06,597
We were told
to go one direction,
748
00:41:06,597 --> 00:41:08,866
and the ICE officers
took them into another office.
749
00:41:08,866 --> 00:41:12,737
So now really, it's just --
It's a waiting game.
750
00:41:12,737 --> 00:41:14,105
Yuridia's immigration attorneys
751
00:41:14,105 --> 00:41:16,841
have been preparing
for this moment for months.
752
00:41:16,841 --> 00:41:18,810
If Yuridia makes it
through immigration,
753
00:41:18,810 --> 00:41:21,546
this will be the first time
they're meeting.
754
00:41:21,546 --> 00:41:22,914
How you guys feeling?
755
00:41:22,914 --> 00:41:24,716
-Excited. Overwhelmed.
756
00:41:24,716 --> 00:41:26,684
We didn't expect it
to take as long as it did,
757
00:41:26,684 --> 00:41:28,486
but we're just glad
that it's here.
758
00:41:28,486 --> 00:41:31,022
-I mean, we've thought about her
and the kids for so long,
759
00:41:31,022 --> 00:41:32,323
and we've never met her.
760
00:41:32,323 --> 00:41:34,959
So we're just beyond excited
to meet her in person.
761
00:41:34,959 --> 00:41:37,362
-Is there anything that's
concerning you right now?
762
00:41:37,362 --> 00:41:40,164
-Honestly, just her getting here
to be with us,
763
00:41:40,164 --> 00:41:43,368
and then once -- Like, it just
has felt really difficult,
764
00:41:43,368 --> 00:41:44,602
her being so far away
765
00:41:44,602 --> 00:41:46,471
and, like, things being
so out of our control.
766
00:41:46,471 --> 00:41:48,272
So it feels reassuring
to have her here
767
00:41:48,272 --> 00:41:49,974
and feel like we'll have
a little bit more control
768
00:41:49,974 --> 00:41:52,243
over how things go
and the flow of the case.
769
00:41:52,243 --> 00:41:55,646
And going forward,
we'll see how everything goes.
770
00:41:55,646 --> 00:41:57,715
♪♪
771
00:41:57,715 --> 00:41:59,584
-She get through customs?
772
00:41:59,584 --> 00:42:02,053
-She said [Speaks Spanish]
so I'm asking her...
773
00:42:02,053 --> 00:42:05,656
-Okay.
-...what is next.
774
00:42:05,656 --> 00:42:07,825
-She's typing.
775
00:42:07,825 --> 00:42:10,328
-[ Speaks Spanish ]
-Okay.
776
00:42:10,328 --> 00:42:13,664
-What is it, 100 person?
777
00:42:13,664 --> 00:42:15,466
-Yeah. Oh, the office is asking?
778
00:42:15,466 --> 00:42:17,869
-Yes, I texted it
to her earlier.
779
00:42:17,869 --> 00:42:20,037
♪♪
780
00:42:20,037 --> 00:42:21,539
She said they're almost done.
781
00:42:21,539 --> 00:42:22,573
-Oh, great. Okay.
782
00:42:22,573 --> 00:42:24,375
-[ Sighs ]
We're going to burst.
783
00:42:24,375 --> 00:42:27,612
[ Laughs ]
784
00:42:27,612 --> 00:42:30,515
That's them. Is that Yuridia?
785
00:42:30,515 --> 00:42:33,818
[ Laughter ]
786
00:42:33,818 --> 00:42:36,154
Oh, you guys are so cute!
787
00:42:39,524 --> 00:42:41,893
Nice to meet you!
788
00:42:44,362 --> 00:42:46,030
[ Laughs ]
789
00:43:05,183 --> 00:43:07,084
[ Laughter ]
790
00:43:12,356 --> 00:43:13,891
-Yuridia and her daughters
have started
791
00:43:13,891 --> 00:43:15,893
to rebuild their life again
in the U.S.
792
00:43:15,893 --> 00:43:18,429
while her immigration case
continues to unfold.
793
00:43:18,429 --> 00:43:19,931
-Cheese!
-Cheese!
794
00:43:49,927 --> 00:43:56,968
♪♪
795
00:43:56,968 --> 00:44:04,008
♪♪