Immigrant, Pregnant, Is Jailed Under Pact

In a case that has outraged immigration activists, county police outside Nashville, Tenn., arrested a pregnant undocumented worker and, when she was about to give birth, chained her to a hospital bed. Once she had given birth, the baby was taken away from her for two days and the father was denied contact. County officials were acting under a cooperation agreement signed in April 2007 with federal immigration authorities that gave immigration enforcement powers to county officers. These agreements are proliferating, empowering local law enforcement to use harsh tactics to crack down on illegal immigrants.