Wife of US Soldier Released from ICE Detention After Arrest at Louisiana Military Base

Annie Ramos, 22, was released from a federal immigration detention facility on Tuesday after her arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at Fort Johnson, a US Army base in Louisiana. Ramos, an undocumented immigrant who arrived in the US as a toddler, had married her husband, a soldier stationed at the base, just days before her detention.

The arrest occurred last week, and she spent nearly a week in custody before her release.

agents detained Ramos on the military base where her husband serves.

The incident took place shortly after the couple's wedding, which occurred on August 31. AP News reported that Ramos was taken into custody during a routine check and held at the LaSalle ICE Processing Center in Jena, Louisiana. Her husband, identified as Specialist Emmanuel Ramos, is an active-duty soldier in the US Army.

Ramos stated that she has lived in the US since age two and has no criminal record. She applied for humanitarian parole following her release.

Ramos was released on Tuesday without conditions, allowing her to return to her family.

Her attorney, Sirine Shebaya, confirmed the release and noted that Ramos would pursue legal options to remain in the US.

“All I have ever wanted is to live with dignity in the country I call home." — Annie Ramos, via The Guardian, September 5, 2023 The couple expressed relief at the reunion, with Ramos's husband describing the separation as difficult given his military duties.”

The case highlights tensions between immigration enforcement and military family support. ICE has authority to conduct operations on federal properties, including military bases, though such arrests of dependents are uncommon. BBC reported that Ramos's detention drew attention from immigrant rights groups, who criticized the timing and location of the arrest.