The wife of a U.S. soldier has been released from federal immigration detention, where she spent nearly a week after being taken into custody on a Louisiana military base.
Annie Ramos, 22, a Honduran-born woman married to a U.S. Army staff sergeant preparing for deployment, was detained by federal immigration agents. She had been attempting to register at his base to receive military benefits and obtain a green card.
Her detention drew public backlash from critics of the administration’s mass deportation campaign, who warned it could demoralize troops during an ongoing war. Ramos’ mother-in-law, Jen Rickling, confirmed her release to The Associated Press, with The New York Times first reporting the development.
Ramos, who married Staff Sgt. Matthew Blank in March, has lived in the U.S. since she was less than two years old. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated Ramos had been ordered removed by a federal immigration judge in 2005 after her family failed to appear for a hearing.
Ramos and her husband say she has been attempting to gain legal status, including by applying for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in 2020 though her application remained stalled amid legal battles to eliminate the program.
“All I have ever wanted is to live with dignity in the country I have called home since I was a baby,” Ramos said in a statement to The AP after her release. “I want to finish my degree, continue my education, and serve my community — just as my husband serves our country with honor.”
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.”
