US Soldier’s Wife Released From Immigration Detention

The wife of a US soldier was released Tuesday from a federal immigration detention center after nearly a week in custody on a Louisiana military base.

Annie Ramos, 22, a Honduran-born wife of a US Army staff sergeant preparing for deployment, was detained shortly after trying to register for military benefits and seek a green card. Her detention sparked criticism of President Trump’s immigration policies, with some warning that such actions could demoralize troops during an active deployment, the AP reports.

Ramos’ release was confirmed by the US Department of Homeland Security and her mother-in-law, Jen Rickling. According to The New York Times, she left the detention center and was reunited with her husband.

Ramos married Staff Sgt. Matthew Blank in March. She has lived in the United States since she was less than two years old. DHS said she was ordered removed by a federal immigration judge in 2005 after her family failed to attend a hearing. Ramos and her husband said she has sought legal status, including through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in 2020, but her application stalled amid ongoing legal challenges to the program.

“All I have ever wanted is to live with dignity in the country I have called home since I was a baby,” Ramos said after her release. “I want to finish my degree, continue my education, and serve my community—just as my husband serves our country with honor.”

A spokeswoman for US Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, said Kelly had contacted DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin regarding Ramos’ detention. Blank has family in Arizona.

“I’m happy Annie is back with her husband and family where she belongs,” Kelly said. “They never should have gone through this painful process, but far too many families like theirs are because of this administration.”

DHS told the AP that Ramos was released with a GPS monitor and will continue to face removal proceedings. “She will receive full due process,” DHS said. She has been ordered to check in with ICE weekly.

Under President Trump, the administration has eliminated policies that had offered leniency for the family members of military personnel and veterans, even as the military has highlighted protections for soldiers’ families as a recruitment incentive.

Ramos said she plans to continue studying biochemistry while focusing on her married life. “We want to create a home, a future, and a family,” she said. “This experience has been incredibly difficult, but it has also reminded me of the power of faith, love, and community. I am hopeful for what comes next.”

Blank said he is focused on their future together. “I’m complete and ready to serve our country,” he said. “And it’s her country, too.”

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