Wife of U.S. Army Soldier Released by ICE After Arrest at Louisiana Military Base
FORT POLK, LA — In a case that has sparked national debate over immigration enforcement priorities, Annie Ramos, the 22-year-old wife of a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant, was released from federal custody on Tuesday.
Her release comes less than a week after she was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while attempting to register for military benefits at a base in Louisiana.
A Newlywed’s Arrest at Fort Polk
The incident unfolded on April 2 at Fort Polk, where Staff Sergeant Matthew Blank, 23, and his wife of just a few days, Annie Ramos, had gone to enroll her as a military spouse.
Instead, the visit turned into a nightmare. According to family statements, Ramos was questioned about her legal status and subsequently detained by ICE agents.
"I never imagined that trying to do the right thing... would lead to her being taken away from me," Sgt. Blank said in a statement. "Instead of preparing for our future together, I am now fighting for her freedom."
Childhood Removal Order Surfaces
Ramos, a biochemistry student and Sunday school teacher, was born in Honduras but has lived in the United States since she was an infant.
Despite her deep ties to the U.S., Ramos’s path to legal status had been stalled.
Terms of Release and Future Legal Battle
While Ramos is now back with her family, her legal ordeal is far from over. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that:
Monitoring: Ramos is required to wear a GPS ankle monitor as a condition of her release.
Removal Proceedings: The government will continue removal proceedings against her based on the 2005 order.
DHS Stance: Officials stated the administration would not "ignore the rule of law" regarding final orders of removal.
Advocates argue that under previous administrations, family members of active-duty military personnel were typically granted leniency through "Parole in Place" (PIP), a policy designed to prevent the separation of military families.
The Road Ahead
Ramos expressed profound gratitude to her husband and the community for their support. "All I have ever wanted is to live with dignity in the country I have called home since I was a baby," she stated upon her release.
Her attorney, Jessie Schreier, is now working to reopen the decades-old removal order to freeze any potential deportation.
As Staff Sergeant Blank continues his military service, the couple’s primary focus remains on securing Ramos’s permanent legal status so they can build a life together without the threat of separation.
