Immigration and Customs Enforcement has released the wife of a U.S. Army staff sergeant after she was arrested at the military base where he is stationed, just days after the couple married in Houston.
County records show 23-year-old Sgt. Matthew Blank and 22-year-old Annie Ramos tied the knot in Houston on March 31, but just days later, they were no longer together.
The family confirmed to ABC News that on April 2, the couple went to the Louisiana military base where Blank was stationed to help register Ramos as a military spouse and get her moved in, but not long after, they said ICE agents entered and detained Ramos.
The Department of Homeland Security told ABC News Ramos was arrested after she attempted to enter a military base and has no legal status in this country.
DHS added that Ramos will wear a GPS monitor while she’s free and that the government will continue removal proceedings against her.
An immigration attorney not connected to the case told ABC13 that even the marriage license can’t help.
“There are a number of people who are married to citizens who otherwise would be qualified to adjust, but the service has not gotten around to their cases, and they are susceptible to being detained, arrested, and even removed,” immigration attorney Gordon Quan said.
The family’s attorney told ABC News Ramos came to the U.S. as a baby, and she was being held by ICE for enforcement of a removal order issued in 2005 when she was only 20 months old.
While Quan said he’s shocked this happened, as her husband is willing to serve the country, he said this is the reality.
“Going to a federal building, an authority like that. You always run the risk; somebody is going to cause difficulty. I was surprised that she was turned in at the military base and that they went through the trouble of even finding a removal proceeding when she was two years old,” said Quan.
ABC News also reported that the college student, Ramos, is eligible and applied for DACA, but the program has been halted. Reports also show Ramos does not have a criminal history.
Data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse shows that as of Feb. 7, ICE was holding 68,289 individuals in detention. Of these, 50,259 – or 73.6% – have no criminal conviction on record.
Ramos is now released from ICE custody, but there’s been no reason given for why.
Ramos said in a statement Tuesday that she’s grateful to her husband for fighting for her release and is now focused on finishing school and securing her status in this country.
