Newlywed wife of US soldier freed by ICE after detention at military base
Newlywed wife of US soldier freed by ICE after detention at military base
Annie Ramos, the wife of Staff Sergeant Matthew Blank, has been released from immigration custody following her arrest at the Louisiana military installation where her husband is stationed. The 22-year-old, who arrived in the US as a child from Honduras, was detained on 2 April and held for five days at a detention facility amid the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies.
Ramos was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a visit to the base, where the couple had come to secure a military ID for her and activate her spouse benefits. Blank, who enlisted over five years ago and has served in the Middle East and Europe, was heartbroken by the sudden separation. “These have been the worst days of my life,” he told the New York Times after her release.
“I can’t wait to carry my wife into our home and start our lives together,” Blank added. “I’m complete and ready to serve our country. And it’s her country, too.”
Ramos, a biochemistry student, expressed her determination to stabilize her legal standing and continue her education. “All I have ever wanted is to live with dignity in the country I have called home since I was a baby,” she said in a statement to the BBC. “I want to finish my degree, continue my studies, and serve my community—just as my husband serves our country with honor.”
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Ramos has “no legal status to be in this country.” Officials did not immediately respond to the BBC’s inquiries about her case on Tuesday. Ramos had previously entered the US illegally in 2005 and received a final removal order after missing an immigration hearing. At the time, she was around 22 months old.
Detaining Ramos has sparked backlash from advocates, who argue it harms the morale of military personnel. Gaby Pacheco, president of TheDream.US, called the incident a “wake-up call.” “Detaining a 22-year-old biochemistry student who has lived here for two decades and is married to a U.S. Army staff sergeant preparing for deployment doesn’t make us safer—it weakens a military family, undermines our basic values, and shows how far we’ve fallen as a nation,” she said.
ICE emphasized that detention is a voluntary process, encouraging undocumented individuals to use the CBP Home App to arrange their departure. The agency highlighted that those who self-deport can receive financial assistance and a free flight. Meanwhile, Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, who is connected to the couple’s family, intervened to secure Ramos’ release. A spokesperson noted that Kelly had also spoken with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who was already aware of the case.