Border Officials Investigate Newborn Death After Migrant Mom’s Transport to Arizona Hospital in February

The tragic death of a newborn baby in February, whose mother was an Angolan migrant, is now under review by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The mother was detained near Lukeville, Arizona, a remote border area, before being transported to a Phoenix-area hospital.

On February 25, Border Patrol agents from the Ajo Station encountered a group of 12 migrants around 12 miles west of the Lukeville border crossing. One of them was a pregnant woman who communicated in French. She was taken to Ajo Station and arrived there around 2:55 p.m.

A CBP-contracted nurse practitioner evaluated her shortly after, noting she was about eight months pregnant and experiencing significant discomfort. Based on her medical history and current condition, the nurse recommended she be taken to a hospital immediately.

An ambulance arrived at Ajo Station at 3:33 p.m. and departed 15 minutes later, transporting the woman to Abrazo Hospital West Campus in Goodyear, Arizona. A Federal Protective Services inspector followed the ambulance.

By 1:45 a.m., the situation escalated. The woman underwent an emergency cesarean section due to a detected defect in the fetus’ heartbeat. Despite efforts to resuscitate the newborn, the baby was declared dead an hour later.

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on February 27, with results pending. This incident has sparked further scrutiny amidst a larger backdrop of increasing migrant encounters in Arizona.

Tucson Sector Chief John R. Modlin reported 49,451 encounters in February alone. The area around Lukeville has been a significant crossing point since mid-September 2023, despite obstacles like 30-foot steel barriers installed by the Trump administration.

The CBP is mandated by law to report deaths in their custody since 2021, a move influenced by past incidents like the 2018 death of 7-year-old Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquin. This tragic pattern underlines the critical need for improved medical response and facilities for migrants at border crossings.

In March, CBP reported 171 in-custody deaths for fiscal year 2022. The agency has increased medical personnel training and expanded units like the Border Search Trauma and Rescue unit (BORSTAR). Despite these efforts, some migrants still suffer fatalities due to pre-existing conditions and the harsh crossing environment.

Another incident involving the death of an infant at the Nogales Border Patrol Station last September highlights the ongoing challenges. The case remains under review, with no publicly released report yet.