US Army Veteran Slams ICE Over Wife's Detention and Deportation Threat
Sergeant First Class Jose Serrano, an active-duty US Army soldier with 27 years of service including deployments to Afghanistan, has publicly condemned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as "out of control" following the detention of his wife, Deisy Rivera Ortega. Ortega, originally from El Salvador, was arrested by ICE on April 14 in Texas during an appointment at the El Paso immigration office.
Legal Protection and Deportation Confusion
According to CBS News, Ortega entered the United States in 2016 and was granted legal protection in 2019, which prevents her deportation to El Salvador. However, immigration authorities informed Serrano, 51, that his wife could be deported to Mexico instead. "I don't really understand why, because she followed the rules of immigration by the T since day one," Serrano stated, noting that Ortega had an active work permit at the time of her arrest.
Serrano, who was born in Puerto Rico, married Ortega in 2022. He submitted a Parole in Place application on her behalf last year, a special program offering deportation protections to military spouses without legal status, but the case remains pending. Ortega possesses a military ID identifying her as the spouse of an active-duty soldier.
Serrano's Military Service and Personal Struggles
In an emotional interview with CBS, Serrano expressed his loyalty to the Army while criticizing ICE. "I love the Army. The Army helped me out for almost 28 years. It's not the Army, sir. It's ICE," he said. "ICE is out of control right now, taking away rights, as soldiers, that we have."
The situation has taken a severe toll on Serrano's health. He suffers from a traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and depression, conditions that have worsened since his wife's arrest, leading to sleep deprivation. If Ortega is deported to Mexico, where she has no connections, Serrano faces an impossible choice: abandon his Army career or be separated from his wife, as US service members are prohibited from traveling to Mexico.
DHS Response and Criminal Allegations
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provided a statement to CBS News, labeling Ortega as a "criminal illegal alien." DHS claimed she was ordered deported in 2019 after receiving full due process and was convicted of illegal entry into the US. This contrasts sharply with Serrano's account of her legal status and compliance with immigration rules.
The case highlights ongoing tensions in US immigration policy, particularly concerning military families. Serrano's outcry underscores the personal and professional dilemmas faced by service members when their loved ones are entangled in immigration disputes, raising questions about the balance between enforcement and the rights of those who serve the nation.
