Immigration authorities arrested the wife of a U.S. Army staff sergeant on a military base just days after the couple married, sparking concern over immigration enforcement affecting military families.
Detained While Registering as Military Spouse
According to the family’s attorney, 22-year-old Annie Ramos was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on April 2 at Fort Polk, Louisiana. She had accompanied her husband, Staff Sgt. Matthew Blank, 23, to register as a military spouse and begin the process for benefits and legal residency.
Blank said the couple expected to start their life together—not face separation. “Instead of preparing for our future, I’m now fighting for her freedom,” he said.
Old Removal Order at Center of Case
Ramos, who was born in Honduras, has lived in the U.S. since infancy. An attorney for the family says she was issued a removal order in 2005 when she was just 20 months old. That order remains active and could lead to her deportation.
Advocates note that spouses of military service members may qualify for immigration relief, though policies vary. Ramos had also sought protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, but new applications remain blocked amid ongoing legal challenges.
Government Response
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Ramos was detained due to her lack of legal status and a final removal order issued after she failed to appear at an immigration hearing in 2005.
Family and Advocates Push Back
Supporters argue the detention highlights tensions between immigration enforcement and support for military families. Ramos, a biochemistry student and scholarship recipient, has lived in the U.S. for nearly two decades.
“She is kind, dedicated, and deeply committed to her family,” Blank’s mother said, urging officials to reconsider the case.
What’s Next
Ramos is currently being held at an ICE detention facility in Louisiana. Her husband says he will continue advocating for her release as he prepares for a potential overseas deployment.
For more on Trump’s anti-immigration agenda and its effects, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.