Pregnant U.S. Citizen Detained by ICE in L.A. County, Gives Birth Amidst Boyfriend's Detention

Detainment of U.S. Citizen

• 🤰 Kerry Lopez, a 9-month pregnant U.S. citizen, was detained by ICE agents on June 9th in Hawthorne, L.A. County.
• 👮 She states she was trying to protect her boyfriend and cousin, who were being apprehended by federal agents.
• 🚧 Lopez was arrested for allegedly obstructing federal law enforcement by blocking access to a car containing two Guatemalan nationals.

Concerns During Detention

• ❓ During processing, agents questioned Lopez's citizenship, assuming she was undocumented and asking if she was from Mexico.
• ⛓️ She described being placed in handcuffs, expressing fear for her unborn baby's safety and the pressure on her body.
• ⚠️ Agents eventually released Lopez after she began experiencing contractions, leading her to the hospital.

Birth and Boyfriend's Status

• 👶 Four days after her release, Lopez gave birth to a healthy baby girl.
• 💔 Her boyfriend, Brian Alexander Pereira, an undocumented national from Guatemala and the baby's father, is now being held at a detention facility in Texas.
• 🗣️ Lopez's boyfriend's family expressed that he is not a criminal and is being treated unfairly.

DHS Statement and Legal Ramifications

• 🚨 The Department of Homeland Security stated their agents were dealing with a 400% increase in assaults.
• ⚖️ Lopez's attorneys have not yet heard about any federal charges being filed against her.