US man detained by immigration officials while driving pregnant wife to hospital

  • 19/08/2018

Immigration officers in the US have arrested a man who was driving his wife to hospital to give birth.

Joel Arrona-Lara pulled into a petrol station in San Bernardino, California on Wednesday, when the couple were approached by two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, CBS News reports.

His wife Maria del Carmen Venegas showed them her ID, but he didn't have his. The officers didn't allow him to go home and get his ID, instead taking him into custody - leaving Ms Venegas to drive herself to hospital alone, where she had a caesarean section.

"My husband needs to be here," she told CBS News.

"He had to wait for his son for so long, and someone just took him away."

Maria del Carmen Venegas was left to drive herself to hospital, where she gave birth.
Maria del Carmen Venegas was left to drive herself to hospital, where she gave birth. Photo credit: CBS News

ICE said Arrona-Lara, a Mexican, was living in the US illegally. He had been there for 12 years, Ms Venegas said.

"All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States," the agency said in a statement.

ICE didn't explain why the agents didn't let Arrona get his ID or why they left Ms Venegas alone. It said Arrona-Lara was wanted on a homicide charge in Mexico, but the Mexican consulate said it had no record of such a charge.

Arrona-Lara hasn't been allowed to speak to his wife or his newborn son.

"The last thing he knew was that I was here in the hospital. I'm sure he's worried," Ms Venegas told CBS News.

The US has cracked down on its southern border in recent months, separating thousands of children from their parents.

Newshub.