Federal agents detain wife of another US army member: ‘ICE is out of control’
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- A US Army sergeant, Jose Serrano, reported that his wife, Deisy Rivera Ortega, was detained by ICE during an immigration appointment in El Paso, Texas, despite having legal protections against deportation since 2019.
- Rivera Ortega, a Salvadoran national who has been in the US since 2016 and married Serrano in 2022, was arrested under charges of illegal entry, which DHS classified as a federal misdemeanor.
- The case highlights a broader trend of ICE targeting relatives of military service members, contradicting earlier claims that deportations would focus on dangerous criminals, causing distress among veterans and their families.
- Legal representatives argue Rivera Ortega’s detention is unlawful, emphasizing her compliance with immigration rules and active work permit status prior to arrest, while ICE labels her a "criminal illegal alien."
- Similar cases include the detention of another military spouse and the deportation of a veteran's son, raising concerns about the impact of immigration enforcement on military families and prompting calls for policy reassessment.
