Human Rights Abuses Against Pregnant Undocumented Workers

Mon14Jul2008

Human Rights Abuses Against Pregnant Undocumented Workers

13:25 H | Topics: Children - Controversia - Family - Health - Immigration - Justice - Women

Latina Lista is reporting on the story of Juana Villegas DeLaPaz, an undocumented pregnant worker who was recently arrested and imprisoned for driving without a license.

If that wasn't bad enough, Villegas DeLaPaz went into labor while in prison. The results were horrific.

Villegas DeLaPaz was arrested, incarcerated and forced to go through labor under armed guard handcuffed to by her wrist and ankle to a hospital bed. When she arrived at the hospital, the nurse asked the accompanying officer to step outside while Villegas DeLaPaz changed into her hospital gown - he refused, forcing Villegas DeLaPaz to unclothe before him. Then she was shackled on her legs whenever she went to the bathroom. The nurse asked that the shackles be removed because she wanted Villegas DeLaPaz to be able to clean up after childbirth and do other hygiene to prevent infection. Again, the attending officer refused. Her newborn was taken from her and did not receive needed breast milk for several days. She was re-jailed and denied a breast pump to express her milk. Nurses attending her were crying. She could not sleep in the jail because of the intense pain from her swollen breasts. She was not allowed to call her family so her husband could be with her for the birth.

Many nativists are making the rounds to Latin@ blogs covering this issue. They are arguing the same basic tired argument, that if 'illegals' don't want to be treated like criminals than they should stop being criminals (aka go back to where they came from). I personally question why any criminal anywhere should be treated in such a manner. In this day and age, a country like the U.S. has not managed to find any possible alternatives to handcuffing laboring women to beds so they don't escape? We haven't figured out ways for lactating women to be given breast pumps in jail (oh, wait a minute, we have!)?

Being a "criminal" does not equal or even imply the loss of basic human rights. I think that's something we should ALL be able to get on board with.

La Macha

Feedback (3) | Del.icio.us

Feedback (3) » Share your opinion

1. Marina ~ Tuesday, Jul 15 2008 | 20:29H:

I cant believe how wrong this can be! I am enraged at the fact that we have no progressed! WHEN WILL THIS NATION LEARN!!!

2. Julia ~ Saturday, Jul 19 2008 | 11:26H:

Sickening. I can only imagine the riots & outrage if this treatment happened to every "white collar"criminal, or every person who got into tax trouble, or every spouse abuser.
Oh, but those crimes are "different" they say, errors or bad judgement (values often borne of privilege)... Unlike those "criminal" immigrants who "freely choose" to actually pursue the right to eat, live, have a roof over their head & other such luxuries.

3. La Macha ~ Saturday, Jul 19 2008 | 11:44H:

I agree Julia--I think that nativists are biting off their noses to spite their faces. I disagree with them that there is anything "illegal" about people traveling across borders without papers. But as long as that's what the law is, I can see why it would upset them. What I don't understand is why there is an equivalent assumption that if you are a criminal, that means that you lose all basic human rights that ever existed. Isn't that supposedly what makes this nation great? Is that we respect a basic human right to dignity and respect even if you are the lowest law breaker?

Marina--I am with you--I am just can't believe that women are being treated like this.

VivirLatino