Wife of US Army sergeant detained in El Paso immigration facility
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- Deisy Rivera Ortega, wife of U.S. Army Sgt. Jose Serrano, was arrested by immigration agents during an appointment in El Paso, Texas, despite holding a valid work permit and previous protection from removal to El Salvador.
- Rivera Ortega is currently detained at the El Paso Service Processing Center and has challenged her detention in U.S. District Court, seeking to block deportation to Mexico, a country where she has no ties.
- The Department of Homeland Security stated Rivera Ortega entered the U.S. illegally in 2016 and has a final removal order from 2019, emphasizing that work authorization does not grant legal status.
- Serrano and his wife applied for relief under the "parole in place" policy, which previously allowed expedited residency for military spouses, but recent actions suggest the Trump administration is reducing leniency toward immigrant family members of military personnel.
