ICE Detains Army Sergeant's Wife Despite Legal Protections
In a shocking development that has ignited controversy, federal immigration agents have detained the wife of a decorated US Army sergeant during a routine appointment at an immigration office in El Paso, Texas. Sgt First Class Jose Serrano, a 51-year-old veteran with 27 years of military service including deployment to Afghanistan, revealed in an interview with CBS News that his Salvadoran wife, Deisy Rivera Ortega, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
Legal Protections Ignored
Serrano expressed profound confusion and distress over the detention, stating that Rivera Ortega had followed all immigration rules meticulously since arriving in the US in 2016. Most critically, she received legal protection in 2019 that explicitly bars her deportation to El Salvador, making the ICE action particularly baffling. The couple married in 2022, and Rivera Ortega reportedly held an active work permit prior to her arrest on April 14.
"I don't really understand why, because she followed the rules of immigration by the T since day one," Serrano told CBS News, highlighting the apparent contradiction between her compliance and her detention.
Contradictory Claims and Due Process
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, countered by labeling Rivera Ortega a "criminal illegal alien" due to a conviction for illegal entry—a federal misdemeanor. DHS asserted she was ordered deported on December 12, 2019, after receiving "full due process." However, Serrano's attorney, Matthew Kozik, a former judge advocate and combat veteran who earned a bronze star, has filed a court petition claiming the detention is illegal.
"What is going on is absurd," Kozik told CBS, underscoring the legal battle ahead. Serrano added, "ICE is out of control right now, sir, taking away rights, as soldiers, that we have."
Broader Pattern Affecting Military Families
This case is not isolated. It reflects a growing trend where the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, initially touted as targeting dangerous criminals, has increasingly ensnared relatives of US military service members. In a similar incident, ICE agents detained Annie Ramos, the wife of Army Sergeant Matthew Blank, at his Louisiana military base as he prepared to deploy. Ramos, a biochemistry student and Sunday school teacher with no criminal record, was released after media coverage but faces ongoing immigration challenges.
Further complicating matters, Serrano noted that Rivera Ortega has no ties to Mexico, a country where she might be removed, and travel restrictions could prevent him from visiting her. The emotional toll is severe; Serrano, who has undergone treatment for traumatic brain injury and PTSD, now sleeps only two hours a night.
Historical Context and Ongoing Impact
The issue extends beyond recent cases. In May 2025, Jermaine Thomas, the son of a deceased US military veteran, was deported to Jamaica despite being born on a US Army base in Germany—a situation that challenges citizenship norms. These instances highlight systemic tensions between immigration enforcement and military service, raising questions about the priorities and methods of agencies like ICE.
As the US Army defers questions to DHS, and neither DHS nor ICE has commented further on Rivera Ortega's detention, the case underscores a critical debate over immigration policy, veterans' rights, and the rule of law in America.
