Lucky baby: Alien gives birth after being caught

Alejandra Fabiola Juarez gave birth to a healthy baby girl this week, one day after U.S. Border Patrol agents caught her entering the country illegally.

She was the first of two illegal aliens from Mexico to be transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center this week for labor pains moments after agents caught them entering near the U.S. Port of Entry at Andrade, Calif., in separate incidents.

Sandra Esquival Contreras, an 18-year-old from San Luis Rio Colorado, Son., was the second woman to experience labor pains. Contreras, who was caught Friday night, did not give birth and was expected to be returned to Mexico soon with the 9-year-old sister she was traveling with.

It was the second time this week agents caught Contreras crossing illegally and the fourth time in the past few months, she said.

Juarez, a 16-year-old who was caught Thursday night while riding in a vehicle carrying several illegal aliens, said she went into labor pains after having to run across the border then jump into the vehicle she was riding in.

"I had to run very fast," she said. "If I didn't they were going to leave me."

Soon after she was taken into custody, Juarez said she began to feel pain in her stomach area and thought she was having pregnancy problems. Agents had the Rural/Metro Fire Department take her to the Yuma Regional Medical Center, where she eventually gave birth to her daughter.

Juarez, who will be returned to Mexico when she is healthy, said she was happy that her daughter is now a U.S. citizen and hoped family members in Los Angeles will be able to take the child.

"That way she won't have to suffer like I did," Juarez said. "She can go to Mexico and come back whenever she wants to."

Two days after her return trip was spoiled, Juarez said she wasn't sure what she would do now, but she hoped her daughter could stay in the United States.

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Louie Villalobos can be reached at lvillalobos@yumasun.com or 539-6858.