Wife of US Coast Guard member arrested over expired visa after security check for military housing
Share and Follow


WASHINGTON (AP) — The wife of an active-duty Coast Guardsman was arrested earlier this week by federal immigration authorities inside the family residential section of the U.S. Naval Air Station at Key West, Florida, after she was flagged in a routine security check, officials said Saturday.

“The spouse is not a member of the Coast Guard and was detained by Homeland Security Investigations pursuant to a lawful removal order,” said Coast Guard spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Steve Roth in a statement confirming Thursday’s on-base arrest. “The Coast Guard works closely with HSI and others to enforce federal laws, including on immigration.”

According to a U.S. official, the woman’s work visa expired around 2017, and she was marked for removal from the United States a few years later. She and the Coast Guardsman were married early this year, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an enforcement incident.

Though the Trump administration has made immigration arrests a top priority for federal law enforcement, it did not immediately appear the on-base arrest of the military spouse was part of a broader sweep.

The official said that when the woman and her Coast Guard husband were preparing to move into their on-base housing on Wednesday, they went to the visitor control center to get a pass so she could access the Key West installation. During the routine security screening required for base access, the woman’s name was flagged as a problem.

Base personnel contacted the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which looked into the matter, said the official. NCIS and Coast Guard security personnel got permission from the base commander to enter the installation and then went to the Coast Guardsman’s home on Thursday, the official said. They were joined by personnel from Homeland Security Investigations, a unit within Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

HSI eventually took the spouse into custody, and the official said they believe she is still being detained. Officials did not provide the name of the country she is from.

The Coast Guard referred questions about the woman’s identity, immigration status and charges to ICE, which did not respond to a request for comment on Saturday. The Department of Homeland Security also did not respond to a request for comment.

The husband of the arrested woman is a Coast Guardsman assigned to the USCGC Mohawk, a 270-foot-long cutter based at Key West. The couple was moving into U.S. government housing at the nearby Naval Air Station.

An online database that tracks ship movements shows the Mohawk has been docked in its home port since mid-March. A March 16 media release says the ship had recently returned following a 70-day deployment to the Eastern Pacific Ocean on a mission to intercept shipments of illegal drugs.

In a statement, the Navy said that it “fully cooperated with federal law enforcement authorities on this matter. We take security and access at naval installations seriously.”

___

Associated Press writer Rebecca Santana contributed to this report.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Tawdry picture that will cast a dark cloud over the Royals' Christmas

Controversial Image Sparks Tensions for Royal Family’s Holiday Season

Could there be a more unsettling conclusion to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s royal chapter…
Doctors tell Americans to brace for brutal, worsening virus season

Experts Warn of Intensified Virus Season Ahead: Americans Urged to Prepare for Severe Health Challenges

The already challenging season of viral infections and “super flu” is predicted…
Russian general Fanil Sarvarov killed by bomb under his car in Moscow

Shocking Assassination: Top Russian General Fanil Sarvarov Killed in Moscow Car Bomb Blast

A Russian general lost his life on Monday morning when an explosive…
Illinois officers crawl under burning car to save trapped driver in dramatic Interstate 88 rescue

Brave Illinois Officers Risk It All to Save Driver Trapped Under Burning Vehicle on I-88

In Illinois, early Sunday morning, police officers demonstrated remarkable bravery by crawling…
Iran executes man convicted of spying for Israeli intelligence

Iran Executes Convicted Israeli Spy: Unveiling the High-Stakes Espionage Drama

Iranian authorities have executed a man accused of espionage for Israel’s intelligence…
Fisherman survives near-fatal shark attack with own lifesaving care, instincts that kept him alive

Heroic Fisherman Defies Odds: Survives Shark Attack with Quick Thinking and Self-Rescue Tactics

A fisherman from Hawaii has shared his harrowing experience after a life-threatening…
Why falling asleep on the couch could be ruining your holiday sleep

Discover How Couch Naps May Be Sabotaging Your Holiday Rest: Expert Tips to Improve Sleep Quality

LOS ANGELES — As the holiday season approaches, finding a restful night’s…
Tow truck driver arrested for taking car with a little girl inside

Tow Truck Driver Accused of Accidentally Towing Car with Child Inside

In a startling incident in Florida, a tow truck driver has been…