A US soldier's wife who was detained by immigration agents at the military base where he is stationed - just days after their wedding - has been released. Annie Ramos, 22, an undocumented immigrant who came to the US as a toddler, was arrested on 2 April and spent five days at a detention centre alongside hundreds facing deportation under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Immigration officials described Ramos as an illegal alien from Honduras who was arrested after attempting to enter a military base.
I feel awesome. Relieved. Relieved, Staff Sergeant Matthew Blank told the New York Times after his wife's release. These have been the worst days of my life.
I can't wait to carry my wife into our home and start our lives together, Blank said. I'm complete and ready to serve our country. And it's her country, too.
Blank, who enlisted more than five years ago and has served in the Middle East and Europe, is scheduled to begin training later this month ahead of another deployment. Ramos, a biochemistry student, said she is now focused on securing her status, continuing her studies, and building a life with her husband.
All I have ever wanted is to live with dignity in the country I have called home since I was a baby, she said. I want to finish my degree, continue my education, and serve my community - just as my husband serves our country with honor.
The Department of Homeland Security has stated that Ramos has no legal status to be in this country. DHS officials did not respond to questions about her status when contacted by the BBC.
The couple had traveled from Houston to the Louisiana base to obtain a military ID for Ramos and activate her military spouse benefits, with plans to move her onto the base over Easter weekend. Instead, Blank said, she was ripped away from him last week.
During an appointment at the base, the couple presented Ramos's birth certificate, Honduran passport, their marriage license, and Blank's military identification. I never imagined that trying to do the right thing would lead to her being taken away from me, Blank said. What was supposed to be the happiest week of our lives has turned into one of the hardest.
Ramos was handcuffed by ICE agents before being driven away in a military vehicle. As family members frantically tried to contact immigration officials to ensure that Ramos was not deported, Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, contacted Blank to inform him he would push for Ramos' release.
A spokeswoman for the senator said Kelly also spoke to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who was already aware of the case. I'm happy Annie is back with her husband and family where she belongs, Senator Kelly said. They never should have gone through this painful process, but far too many families like theirs are because of this administration.
Legal experts indicate that the administration has moved away from past practices of leniency towards service members' families in immigration cases, and the detention has drawn criticism from advocates who argue it undermines morale among service members. Gaby Pacheco, president of TheDream.US, stated that the case should serve as a wake-up call for the nation.
I feel awesome. Relieved. Relieved, Staff Sergeant Matthew Blank told the New York Times after his wife's release. These have been the worst days of my life.
I can't wait to carry my wife into our home and start our lives together, Blank said. I'm complete and ready to serve our country. And it's her country, too.
Blank, who enlisted more than five years ago and has served in the Middle East and Europe, is scheduled to begin training later this month ahead of another deployment. Ramos, a biochemistry student, said she is now focused on securing her status, continuing her studies, and building a life with her husband.
All I have ever wanted is to live with dignity in the country I have called home since I was a baby, she said. I want to finish my degree, continue my education, and serve my community - just as my husband serves our country with honor.
The Department of Homeland Security has stated that Ramos has no legal status to be in this country. DHS officials did not respond to questions about her status when contacted by the BBC.
The couple had traveled from Houston to the Louisiana base to obtain a military ID for Ramos and activate her military spouse benefits, with plans to move her onto the base over Easter weekend. Instead, Blank said, she was ripped away from him last week.
During an appointment at the base, the couple presented Ramos's birth certificate, Honduran passport, their marriage license, and Blank's military identification. I never imagined that trying to do the right thing would lead to her being taken away from me, Blank said. What was supposed to be the happiest week of our lives has turned into one of the hardest.
Ramos was handcuffed by ICE agents before being driven away in a military vehicle. As family members frantically tried to contact immigration officials to ensure that Ramos was not deported, Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, contacted Blank to inform him he would push for Ramos' release.
A spokeswoman for the senator said Kelly also spoke to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who was already aware of the case. I'm happy Annie is back with her husband and family where she belongs, Senator Kelly said. They never should have gone through this painful process, but far too many families like theirs are because of this administration.
Legal experts indicate that the administration has moved away from past practices of leniency towards service members' families in immigration cases, and the detention has drawn criticism from advocates who argue it undermines morale among service members. Gaby Pacheco, president of TheDream.US, stated that the case should serve as a wake-up call for the nation.
