CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) -- Border Patrol agents helped a pregnant woman who entered the U.S. illegally give birth at a patrol station.
U.S. Border Patrol officials said the incident happened Feb. 16 when an agent spotted a Guatemalan family crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.
According to officials, the family -- which consisted of a father, two children and a pregnant mother -- was taken to a patrol station to be processed.
As medical staff at the station performed routine checks on the family, the pregnant mother “complained of abdominal pains and the staff noticed that she was in labor,” according to officials.
About 30 minutes after she was apprehended, the 27-year-old woman gave birth to a girl with the assistance of Border Patrol agents and medical staff.
The woman and baby were taken to an area hospital for further care, officials said.
Border Patrol officials added:
“Since the beginning of fiscal year ’20, which started on Oct. 1, 2019, there have been 33 cases of pregnancy related hospital visits within San Diego Sector.
To address the humanitarian crisis that exists along our southwest border, San Diego Sector now has medical professionals working around the clock in four of six immediate border stations. This contract medical support began in July 2019.
With the medical staff in place at the stations, detainees receive prompt medical attention and are more closely monitored during their processing with Border Patrol. It allows agents once required to escort detainees to the hospital for minor medical issues, to focus on border security.”
