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Detained Asylum Seeker Denied Lifesaving Medicine
3 Sep
Summary
- Asylum seeker from Belarus denied critical thyroid medication.
- Attorneys seek court order for release for medical treatment.
- ICE states detainee receives proper medical care.
Katsiaryna Bartko, a 33-year-old Belarusian asylum seeker, is petitioning a Kansas federal court for release from ICE detention. Her legal team asserts that she has been denied crucial lifesaving medication for months, jeopardizing her health following treatment for thyroid cancer. Bartko requires daily medication to regulate vital hormones.
Her attorneys will argue on September 8, 2026, for her release to receive supervised medical treatment while her asylum case is pending. Bartko, who entered the U.S. in 2022 to flee political persecution, was detained in Florida in June 2026 after local charges were dropped. Her partner alleges she missed doses for days at a time, risking a potentially fatal myxedema coma.
While ICE states Bartko is receiving proper medical care and working with a hospital, medical records reviewed suggest her hormone levels have been concerningly high. A physician's opinion in court documents indicates her current placement is medically unsafe due to unreliable access to essential therapy and monitoring.
