Rebecca Pinyerd, 70, a Filipina lawful permanent resident has lived in the United States for more than four decades. Her deportation to the Philippines was temporarily halted after airline officials determined she was medically unfit to fly, citing serious health conditions, according to her family. – Photo from a family member’s social media account
CHICAGO — The scheduled deportation of a 70-year-old Filipina woman was temporarily halted after airline officials determined she was medically unfit to fly, according to her family, leaving her in continued immigration detention as legal and medical questions remain unresolved.
The woman, Rebecca Pinyerd, had been slated for removal to the Philippines on a commercial flight departing from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Her family said the deportation was stopped after they presented medical documentation showing that she suffers from advanced kidney disease, thyroid complications, and uncontrolled hypertension.
According to relatives, those medical concerns were raised directly with the airline assigned to transport her. The carrier declined to proceed with the flight, citing fitness-to-fly considerations. Under U.S. law and aviation policy, airlines retain discretion to deny boarding to passengers, including individuals in federal custody, when medical stability cannot be assured.
Following the cancellation, Pinyerd was returned to detention at the Clay County Jail in Indiana, where she remains in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As of publication, no new deportation date has been announced.
Family raises health and access concerns
Pinyerd’s daughter, April Lowe, said she had planned to accompany her mother on the deportation flight as an escort and learned of the cancellation shortly before departure. The family said they have not been able to speak with Pinyerd since she was returned to detention.
Relatives and advocates have expressed concern about her health while in custody, citing the seriousness of her conditions and the need for consistent medical care. They have called for an independent medical evaluation outside of immigration detention and continuity of treatment before any further removal efforts are pursued.
Long U.S. residency and prior conviction
Family members said Pinyerd has lived in the United States for more than 40 years and holds lawful permanent resident status, commonly known as a green card.
They acknowledged that she previously served a lengthy federal prison sentence, approximately 19 years, for drug-related offenses stemming from a conviction more than two decades ago. After completing her sentence, the family said, Pinyerd complied with post-release requirements, including routine annual check-ins with the Department of Homeland Security.
According to relatives, she was taken into federal custody during one of those check-ins in March 2025. The precise legal basis for her current detention and the timing of renewed removal proceedings have not been publicly detailed by immigration authorities.
Legal experts note that certain criminal convictions, even those that occurred decades earlier, can still trigger removal proceedings under U.S. immigration law. Outcomes depend on statutory classifications, procedural history, and available avenues for judicial review.
No official comment from authorities
As of publication, ICE had not responded to requests for comment regarding Pinyerd’s detention, medical condition, or immigration status. The airline involved declined to comment on the specifics of the case, citing privacy and security considerations.
Advocates say the case underscores ongoing questions about how elderly and medically vulnerable individuals are handled in immigration custody, particularly when deportation involves long-haul international travel.
