Cary López Alvarado, a 28-year-old pregnant woman and U.S. citizen, has spoken out about her detention by immigration authorities in California, despite informing the agents of her citizenship. During her arrest, she lost her balance as agents “shoved her,” expressing fear for her safety and her unborn child. Following the incident, she experienced sharp stomach pains and was hospitalized just one week before her due date.
The arrest occurred when masked Border Patrol officers followed a pickup truck carrying undocumented workers, including her partner, to a parking lot in Hawthorne. López Alvarado, along with her cousin Alberto Sandoval and two co-workers, were conducting maintenance work when they were surrounded by agents demanding entry without a warrant. López Alvarado captured the encounter on video, asserting her rights as agents attempted to force open the gate, leading to her arrest for allegedly obstructing their operation. Despite stating her imminent due date, agents dismissed her claims, questioning her citizenship.
Witnesses recorded the arrest and shouted for agents to release her, emphasizing her pregnant state. After her release, López Alvarado said she was not provided with any documentation regarding her arrest. Meanwhile, her cousin Sandoval remains in custody facing assault charges, which his mother vehemently denies, citing video evidence of the incident.
This arrest coincided with a series of immigration raids in Southern California, prompting sustained protests in Los Angeles. The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not comment on the situation, while Immigration and Customs Enforcement acknowledged the inquiry without further detail.
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