While debates on immigration policy often tend towards philosophical ideas, in practice the immigration system in the United States can lead to serious and even life-threatening situations. Eleven-year-old Julia Espinoza was born in Miami while her parents were attending college on student visas. Julia was born with a congenital malformation to her small intestine, which prevents her from eating normally. As a lifesaving measure, doctors removed most of her small intestine. Julia survives by getting daily infusions of nutrients through an intravenous post in her chest.