A five-year-old boy in Philadelphia is facing a serious decline in health due to an eating disorder exacerbated by his father’s detention by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Jair Merida, who battles brain cancer and autism, has become increasingly reliant on a nutritional supplement known as PediaSure since his father, Johny Merida, was taken into custody in September 2025.
Johny Merida, a Bolivian national, had lived in the United States for nearly 20 years without official authorization before his detention during a traffic stop. His son Jair’s health has deteriorated as he was only willing to consume food provided by his father, who dedicated his daily life to caring for him. With Johny in detention for nearly five months, Jair’s condition has worsened, prompting fears for his survival.
Family Faces Tough Choices Amid Health Crisis
Merida has recently accepted deportation to Bolivia, a decision that raises significant concerns for his son’s health. According to Gimena Morales Antezana, Jair’s mother, the family cannot afford basic necessities due to the loss of Merida’s income while he is detained. Morales Antezana, who has been caring for Jair full-time, stated, “We have been trying to survive, but it is difficult with the children because they miss their dad so much.”
The family plans to reunite in Bolivia, but the medical infrastructure there poses dire challenges. The U.S. State Department has indicated that hospitals in Bolivia are unable to handle serious medical conditions, raising alarms about the adequacy of care Jair would receive. “Even if we wanted to go back to Bolivia, there’s no hospital. The treatment is not adequate,” Merida shared with the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Jair has been diagnosed with avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder, which makes him dependent on PediaSure for nutrition. Since his father’s detention, medical professionals have reported that he has consumed less than 30 percent of the necessary daily calories, placing him at risk of significant medical decline. Cynthia Schmus, a neuro-oncology nurse practitioner at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, emphasized the importance of Johny’s support, stating that it is “integral to his overall health.”
Legal and Medical Challenges Intensify
Johny Merida’s detention has not only disrupted the family’s emotional stability but has also created a complex legal situation. He was previously deported from the U.S. in 2008 under a different name and had no criminal record since then. His attorney, John Vandenberg, noted that he had reached his limit in detention, describing it as a “tough environment.”
In September, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued a temporary order blocking Merida’s deportation, and a T-visa application was submitted for Morales Antezana. This visa is designed to assist victims of human trafficking and their families in seeking a path to citizenship. However, there have been no updates on this application in months, leaving the family in limbo.
The emotional toll on Jair has been profound. His mother reported that the boy cries when he speaks to his father on the phone, asking why he cannot come home. As the family prepares for a potentially dangerous return to Bolivia, they face a dual challenge: the ongoing health crisis of their son and the uncertainties surrounding their future.
Medical experts and advocacy groups have raised alarms about the risks associated with sending Jair back to Bolivia, where pediatric cancer survival rates are significantly lower than in the U.S. A GoFundMe campaign initiated by a family friend highlights these concerns, asserting that returning to Bolivia would put Jair’s life at serious risk.
Morales Antezana expressed her fears regarding the lack of medical care in Bolivia, stating, “It’s scary to think that if something happens we don’t have a hospital to take him to, but knowing his dad will be there makes it a little lighter to bear.”
As the family navigates this dire situation, they remain hopeful for future medical assistance and emotional support as they prepare to reunite in a country where access to adequate healthcare remains uncertain.
