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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A U.S. soldier’s wife was freed from a federal immigration detention center on Tuesday after spending almost a week in custody following her arrest at a military base in Louisiana.
The detainment of 22-year-old Annie Ramos, originally from Honduras and married to a U.S. Army staff sergeant on the verge of deployment, sparked criticism from opponents of the Trump administration’s widespread deportation actions. Critics argued that such actions could lower troop morale during ongoing military engagements.
Ramos, who wed Staff Sgt. Matthew Blank in March, was apprehended by immigration officials while she was trying to register at his base to access military benefits and eventually secure a green card. Having resided in the U.S. since she was under two years old, she faced removal orders from 2005 after her family missed a court date, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Both Ramos and her husband have expressed her ongoing efforts to attain legal status, including applying for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in 2020, although her application lingered unresolved due to legal disputes surrounding the program.
“My lifelong dream is to live with dignity in the nation I’ve known as home since infancy,” Ramos stated to The AP post-release. “I aspire to complete my education, further my studies, and contribute to my community, just as my husband honors our country through his service.”
DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Trump administration has scrapped policies of immigration enforcement leniency toward the family members of military personnel and veterans, even as the military has promoted the protection of U.S. soldiers’ family members from deportation as a recruiting incentive.
Ramos said she plans to continue studying biochemistry and focusing on enjoying married life with her husband.
“As Matthew continues preparing for his long career in the military, my focus now is on securing my status, continuing my studies, and building our life together,” Ramos said. “We want to create a home, a future, and a family. 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.”