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
Staff Sergeant Matthew Blank’s spouse, Annie Ramos, a 22-year-old undocumented immigrant who arrived in the United States as a child, was recently released following a five-day detention by immigration agents at the base where Blank is stationed. The incident occurred just days after their wedding, sparking emotional relief for the couple as they reunite.
“I feel awesome. Relieved. Relieved,” Blank told the New York Times after Ramos’s release. “These have been the worst days of my life.”
Ramos was arrested on April 2nd and held alongside hundreds of others facing deportation under the Trump-era immigration policies. Officials identified her as an “illegal alien from Honduras” and cited her attempt to enter the military base as the reason for her arrest.
Blank, who joined the armed forces over five years ago and has served in the Middle East and Europe, is set to resume training this month before another deployment. Ramos, a biochemistry student, expressed her focus on stabilizing her legal status, continuing her education, and starting a life with her husband.
“All I have ever wanted is to live with dignity in the country I have called home since I was a baby,” she stated in a BBC interview. “I want to finish my degree, continue my education, 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.” When contacted by the BBC on Tuesday, DHS officials did not provide further clarification on her situation.
The couple had traveled from Houston to a Louisiana military base to secure a military ID for Ramos and activate her spouse benefits, planning to relocate her there during Easter. Instead, Ramos was abruptly taken from Blank last week. During their visit, they submitted her birth certificate, Honduran passport, marriage license, and Blank’s military ID.
“I never imagined that trying to do the right thing would lead to her being taken away from me,” Blank earlier told the BBC. “What was supposed to be the happiest week of our lives has turned into one of the hardest.”
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents handcuffed Ramos before transporting her in a military vehicle. The agency emphasized that detention is a voluntary process, encouraging illegal aliens to use the CBP Home App for self-deportation, which includes financial incentives and a free flight.
As family members scrambled to reach immigration officials, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, whose family is based in the state, reached out to Blank to advocate for Ramos’s release. A senatorial spokeswoman noted that Kelly also spoke to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who was already aware of the case.
“I’m happy Annie is back with her husband and family where she belongs,” Kelly told the BBC after Ramos’s release. “They never should have gone through this painful process, but far too many families like theirs are because of this administration.”
Legal professionals highlighted a shift in the administration’s approach to immigration cases involving service members. Meanwhile, advocates criticized the detention, arguing it risks diminishing 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 exposes how far we’ve fallen as a nation,” she said.
