Congressman DeSaulnier renews effort to allow Isabel Bueso to stay in US
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) has announced the reintroduction of a bill (H.R. 785) that would allow Concord resident Isabel Bueso and her family to permanently remain in the United States so Isabel can continue to receive treatment for her rare, life-threatening disease. An identical bill authored by DeSaulnier passed the House of Representatives in December 2020.
“Last August, we refused to accept that Isabel and her family would be deported through no fault of their own and we launched our fight. Almost a year and a half later, Isabel and her family have been granted a short-term extension to stay in the U.S., medical deferred action was reinstated, and my bill to give her permanent peace of mind passed in the House,” said Congressman DeSaulnier.
“Today I once again renew that push to help Isabel stay here permanently and continue her life-saving medical treatment. I have been honored to fight alongside Isabel, whose poise and strength are unwavering.”
Up for renewal this year
“Having access to medical treatment not available in Guatemala has saved my life, as well as others through my participation in clinical trials. I thank Congressman DeSaulnier for continuing his efforts because my health condition is permanent and will not change when my medical deferred action status is up for renewal again this year. It would help my family and I immensely if our permission to stay in the U.S. was permanent too,” said Isabel Bueso.
Isabel rose to national prominence when the Trump Administration cancelled medical deferred action, which led to people like her with rare, life-threatening diseases facing deportation.
Isabel came to the United States legally from Guatemala in 2003 to receive life-saving treatment as part of a medical trial for Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome, also known as Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VI. Since then, she and her family have resided lawfully in the East Bay and her participation in those trials has helped identify an effective treatment, which the drug manufacturer says Isabel cannot receive in Guatemala.
Isabel is a summa cum laude graduate from Cal State East Bay and an advocate for patients with rare diseases. Before her treatment was discovered, Isabel was only expected to live to 7 years old. She is now 25.