Couple arrested by ICE agents trying to get surgery for their infant son

While waiting for a serious surgery for their 2-month-old son, Oscar and Irma Sanchez were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

NPR reports that no hospital in the Rio Grande Valley -- where the couple lives -- could perform the surgery needed for their son’s pyloric stenosis.

So they needed to make the trek to Corpus Christi, Texas, which would bring them past a border patrol checkpoint.

But as they sat in another hospital, an ICE agent arrived.

He told them officers could escort them to the hospital in Corpus Christi, but that they would immediately be arrested and face deportation. The couple agreed. Sanchez told NPR that he believes a nurse called authorities.

For two days the agents kept constant surveillance over the couple at the hospital. Both were then arrested and separately taken to be booked at the border patrol station.

Before leaving, the couple asked doctors to delay their son's procedure until both of them could get back to the hospital. They were permitted to return and the operation took place.

Advocate groups say the treatment by border patrol is usually reserved for criminals.

Neither Oscar or Irma have a criminal record but ICE has dramatically ramped up its immigrant arrests since President Trump took over.

RELATED: See images of border patrol, ICE agents

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