Minneapolis pregnant woman hiding from ICE faces impossible choice

“Did you notice that I kept looking back to see if there were any cars following me?” We're in Minnesota. Fernanda is trying to reach pregnant women hiding from ICE. “Because the last thing I heard was that ICE is targeting people who are dropping off food.” Fernanda works as a midwife, but on her days off, she volunteers to deliver food and baby supplies to pregnant mothers like Ana, a single mother of two who came from Mexico illegally. Anna asked not to be identified for fear of being targeted. Healthcare providers across Minnesota reported ICE outbreaks at at least 11 different medical centers over the past month. This video from Jan. 21 shows two people being pinned down and detained by agents outside the Whittier Clinic in south Minneapolis. After meeting with an agent near her clinic in early January, Anna switched to virtual appointments for the final weeks of her pregnancy. “My biggest worries are that I will lose something, that the baby will be born too small, that the mother will get diabetes. I'm worried that she will develop high blood pressure and have a seizure.” Now in her 35th week of pregnancy, Anna is reconsidering her birth plans. In 2021, ICE instituted a new policy that exempts pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding mothers from being detained for reasons other than citing “exceptional circumstances.” However, the Times has identified at least two cases in which pregnant women were detained by the Trump administration since November. The Department of Homeland Security told the Times that “pregnancies in ICE custody are extremely rare,” but did not address the 2021 policy. In both cases, DHS said both women entered the country illegally and that their pending asylum cases do not confer legal status. For Anna, not knowing whether she would be targeted by ICE meant quitting one of her two jobs to avoid going out during the day. With her income reduced and afraid to leave the house, Anna struggles to afford the things she needs to prepare for her baby. Home birth is a safe option for mothers who are prepared, but for those who are not, there are significant risks to consider. “You have to be in a sterile area. The baby has to be able to breathe. Someone has to check that the baby can move and doesn't have any infections. If you decide to do this without the supervision of a health care provider who is used to home births, it can be devastating.”