Charlie Gard, the terminally ill baby whose parents have been fighting to keep him on life support, will be headed to the US for experimental treatment. A special committee has taken the first steps towards granting Charlie and his parents permanent residency in America, which could sidestep a UK court’s ruling to withdraw Gard from life support all together.
CNN reports that on Tuesday, the House Committee on Appropriations voted unanimously on an amendment to give the family permanent residency in the US, though it will still need to be voted on by the full House and Senate to pass. The amendment is attached to a bill that will give money to Donald Trump’s border wall and immigration enforcement. That likely means it will be difficult to push through, or that GOPers are cynically attaching the life of a world-famous baby to their repressive immigration law for some extra support.
If the bill passes, Charlie and his parents, Chris Gard and Connie Yates, would be able to come to the US for the experimental nucleoside treatment that has had some results with children who suffer from Charlie’s condition, though it will not reverse his current level of brain damage. Charlie cannot breath, eat, or move on his own. A judge is currently reviewing Charlie’s case, and is expected to give his ruling next week.