A Los Angeles woman who was nine months pregnant went into labor early after being detained and allegedly assaulted by immigration agents, according to a federal tort claim filed by her attorneys.
Cary Lopez Alvarado, identified as a U.S. citizen, was taken into custody on June 8 after she asked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents for a warrant when they arrived at a private property in Hawthorne. The claim states that Alvarado’s boyfriend and cousin worked at the residence, and she was waiting at the gate after being told by phone that authorities were following their truck.
When her boyfriend and cousin arrived, agents reportedly pulled in behind their vehicle and attempted to open it as Alvarado continued to ask for a warrant. The legal filing alleges that she was then restrained with force and held for several hours.
“The agents manhandled Ms. Alvarado by grabbing and pulling Ms. Alvarado’s arms, twisting her arm on the truck, and pushing her body, including her pregnant belly, onto the truck,” attorneys with the Carrillo Law Firm wrote in the claim.
“Border Patrol or ICE agents then shackled Ms. Alvarado with a chain under her pregnant belly, hands, and legs,” according to the filing.
Video shared by attorneys shows Alvarado visibly pregnant while being detained against a white truck.
“I didn’t want them to hurt my stomach because I had my baby there,” Alvarado said during an August 20 news conference, as reported by KCAL.
Alvarado is one of five U.S. citizens who filed claims on August 20 against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) over arrests conducted by immigration authorities in Southern California. A sixth claim involves a legal permanent resident. All are represented by the Carrillo Law Firm.
Attorney Michael Carrillo stated at the news conference that his clients “were racially profiled by ICE and border patrol agents in various communities in the Southland,” according to KCAL. Since their arrests, charges have been dismissed.
A DHS spokesperson responded to McClatchy News stating: “what makes someone a target for immigration enforcement is if they are illegally in the U.S.—NOT their skin color, race, or ethnicity.” The spokesperson also noted that “70% of ICE arrests are of criminal illegal aliens who have been convicted or have pending charges.” DHS did not comment on why Alvarado specifically was detained but previously told KTLA that she was arrested for preventing agents from reaching “two Guatemalan illegal aliens” inside a car; officials also accused her of pushing an agent.
The claim argues federal agents lacked evidence to charge Alvarado with any crime since she only requested identification and a warrant from officers rather than interfering with arrests.
Alvarado is seeking $1 million in damages related to alleged harm caused to herself and her baby during the incident. Her attorneys allege violations including false arrest, false imprisonment, assault, battery, and racial profiling against DHS, ICE, and CBP.
Other claimants include Angel Piña, Javier Ramirez, Andrea Velez, Juan Carlos Ramirez— all U.S. citizens—alongside legal permanent resident Juan Rivas; all were arrested during June or July.
On August 26th, Carrillo Law Firm announced representation of another case involving a 15-year-old U.S. citizen with special needs allegedly wrongfully detained at Arleta High School in Los Angeles on August 11th; ICE agents are accused of holding him at gunpoint.
Javier Ramirez’s claim states he was arrested without a warrant when masked ICE and Border Patrol agents came to his workplace on June 12th in Montebello; he says he was racially profiled before being thrown to the ground despite informing them he is a U.S. citizen with valid documents. He spent four days jailed without access to his diabetes medication after officers refused it from his brother.
Ramirez seeks $1 million over physical and emotional injuries from his detention.
These claims follow an August 8 letter from lawmakers urging DHS to investigate reports of ICE detaining or deporting U.S. citizens—a request publicized via Congressman Dan Goldman’s office (NY-10). The letter stated: “ICE policy makes clear that…as a matter of law, ICE cannot assert its civil immigration enforcement authority to arrest and/or detain a U.S. citizen…in recent high-profile cases, ICE has erroneously arrested U.S. citizens.”