Family says ICE detained Ugandan woman with sickle cell disease at Louisville airport and she went without medication for more than 24 hours

A Louisville-area family is calling for answers after they say U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained a Ugandan woman at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport and, according to the family, prevented her from receiving critical medication for sickle cell disease for more than 24 hours. The detention occurred in the airport area, where the family said she was held despite her medical condition and need for ongoing treatment.

The woman at the center of the complaint, identified in reporting as Sarafinah Bukirwa, arrived in the United States from Uganda in April 2025. WAVE reported that she entered with work authorization and had an asylum claim pending, meaning she was already in the process of seeking protection in the country when the detention at the Louisville airport took place.

According to the family’s account described in the report, the sickle cell disease medication issue became an immediate public-safety concern because the drugs are intended to help manage a chronic condition. The family said she was denied the medication for more than a day, a lapse they described as medically significant given the nature of sickle cell disease and the need for consistent treatment.

WAVE reported that a Kentucky congressman is demanding answers, questioning how federal detention personnel handled the woman’s medical needs and what process was followed once the medication problem arose. The complaint centers on accountability, including whether ICE personnel considered the practical consequences of detention on medical care for a person with a documented condition.

The report also raises broader questions about how federal agencies manage medical needs during encounters at transportation hubs. An airport detention can quickly limit access to a person’s belongings, outside caregivers, and pharmacies, increasing the importance of clear procedures for medication and continuity of care.

Federal immigration enforcement operates under statutory authority, but the family’s account and the congressman’s response underscore that medical access and due process concerns can become central issues when detentions involve serious medical conditions. As of July 30, 2026, it was not clear from the reporting how ICE would respond to the request for information or what steps, if any, were taken to restore access to medication during the period described by the family.

WAVE’s report indicates the case is now being used by the congressman to seek explanations from ICE, and it is likely to focus next on documentation of what medication she had with her, what orders or procedures were used during the detention, and whether federal officials can substantiate the timing and handling of medical care in the airport setting.