ICE Releases Wife of U.S. Army Soldier After Month-Long Detention

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has released Deisy Rivera Ortega, the wife of active-duty U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Jose Serrano, following a month-long detention. Ortega, an El Salvador native, was detained on April 14 in El Paso, Texas, while attending an immigration appointment for the Parole in Place program, which aids military families. Although she had lived in the U.S. for approximately ten years and held legal work permits under protections from the UN Convention Against Torture, ICE cited a 2019 deportation order and a misdemeanor conviction for illegal entry as grounds for her arrest. Her detention sparked public attention due to her husband's 27-year military service, including three deployments to Afghanistan. Serrano reported that the incident worsened his mental health struggles, including PTSD. White House border czar Tom Homan acknowledged the complexity of the case, noting ICE officers have discretion in enforcement. This incident reflects a broader trend of increased ICE actions against relatives of service members under the second Trump administration's strict deportation policies. Ortega faces potential deportation to a third country, as her legal protections specifically bar return only to El Salvador.