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Annie Ramos, a young Honduran woman and wife of a United States Army soldier, was released this Tuesday after spending nearly a week detained in a federal immigration center, following her arrest inside a military base in Louisiana.
The 22-year-old woman was detained while checking in at the base where her husband, Staff Sergeant Matthew Blank, serves, with the aim of accessing military benefits and starting the process to obtain permanent residency.
His case generated a strong public reaction, especially among critics of President Donald Trump's immigration policy, who warned that such measures can affect troop morale, particularly when the military is preparing for deployment.
On its part, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the young woman's mother-in-law confirmed her release to The Associated Press, while The New York Times was the first outlet to report the news.
According to the DHS, Ramos had a deportation order issued in 2005, after his family failed to appear at an immigration hearing.
However, the woman has lived in the United States since she was less than two years old.
Both she and her husband claim that they have tried to normalize their immigration status, including an application to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in 2020, which has remained stalled due to legal disputes surrounding the program.
"The only thing I have always wanted is to live with dignity in the country I have called home since I was a baby," Ramos stated in a statement following her release.
"I want to finish my degree, continue my education, and serve my community, just as my husband serves our country with honor," she noted.
DHS indicated that Ramos was released under supervision with an electronic tracking device while her immigration process continues. “She will receive due process,” the agency assured.
The Trump administration has eliminated policies that offered greater immigration flexibility to the family members of military personnel and veterans, despite the fact that these measures had historically been promoted as an incentive for recruitment.
Ramos assured that he now plans to resume his studies in biochemistry and focus on his family life. "We want to build 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 have hope for what is to come," he stated.
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