ICE detained a US citizen who was 9 months pregnant in Los Angeles
Cary López Alvarado, who is nine months pregnant, said that after being released by ICE she experienced severe pain and was hospitalized.
Lopez had to be hospitalized after being released from immigration custody after being detained by federal agents in Hawthorne on Sunday.
Cary Lopez has been experiencing severe stomach pains after ICE agents arrested her, despite her being a U.S. citizen. She said federal agents accused her of obstructing the arrest of her undocumented husband.
“I didn’t resist or anything,” she said. “I can’t defend myself; I’m pregnant.”
“They had us all surrounded,” she said. The confrontation, which took place near the intersection of 120th Street and Hawthorne Way, was caught on camera.
In the video, the agents, who were wearing masks and sunglasses and riding in Border Patrol vehicles, are told they were on private property.
“Excuse me, ma’am, listen to me, you’re interfering with my arrest,” the agent said. “I’m doing my job. You have nothing to say.”
According to Lopez, the agents accused her of trying to obstruct their operation.
“I was blocking the doors because they were trying to force them open, but I told them they were on private property,” the woman said.
At the time, Lopez was with her husband and his coworker, both undocumented immigrants. The confrontation occurred as they tried to enter her workplace building. López and her husband were eventually arrested, along with her co-worker and her cousin. "They started grabbing me from both sides and I bent down to sort of protect my stomach because I was afraid they were going to hurt me," López said. Referring to her expected delivery date, López replied:“I told them June 17 and they said, 'OK, your baby is going to be born here, but you're from Mexico, right,' and I said no,” Lopez said. Despite her statements, Lopez said agents detained her for allegedly interfering with the operation. Lopez’s due date is not immediate, but based on her experience, her doctors have been monitoring her and her baby’s well-being. “I was born here,” Lopez Alvarado told Telemundo 52. “I was born in Los Angeles, I was born at Hollywood Hospital.” Lopez said agents would contact her to discuss the obstruction allegations. She said she was not served any documents or subpoenas in connection with the arrest.