Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents apprehended the wife of a U.S. Army staff sergeant at Fort Polk, Louisiana, shortly after the couple’s wedding, as reported by an attorney representing the family.
On April 2, Staff Sergeant Matthew Blank, 23, and his wife Annie Ramos, 22, were at the military base with family members who had come to assist in her registration as a military spouse and facilitate her relocation. However, ICE agents arrived at the scene and took Ramos into custody.
In a statement, Sgt. Blank expressed his disbelief, saying, “I never thought that registering my wife to receive her military ID, access her entitled benefits, and initiate her green card process would result in her being taken away from me. Instead of looking forward to our future, I am now fighting for her freedom.”
According to attorney Jessie Schreier, Ramos, originally from Honduras, has been under a removal order since she was just 20 months old.
Generally, undocumented immigrants can qualify for a Green Card, and relatives of military personnel may also receive additional forms of relief. Schreier pointed out that Ramos is currently being held due to a removal order from 2005, which could lead to her deportation to a country she has never lived in. This would create a heartbreaking separation from her husband, who is preparing for his potential third deployment overseas.
Although Ramos applied for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, it is currently on hold for new applicants due to ongoing legal challenges. She has also been awarded a scholarship from TheDream.US, an organization that assists undocumented students with educational expenses.
Gaby Pacheco, president and CEO of TheDream.US, criticized Ramos’s detention, stating, “Holding a 22-year-old biochemistry student who has lived in the U.S. for two decades and is married to a U.S. Army staff sergeant undermines our values and weakens military families. Annie Ramos should be released and reunited with her family. This situation should serve as a wake-up call for our country and our President.”
A representative from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) noted that Ramos was arrested after attempting to enter the military base without legal status. The spokesperson emphasized that she was issued a final removal order due to her illegal entry into the U.S. in February 2005 and her failure to attend her immigration hearing.
Rickling, Blank’s mother, spoke highly of Ramos, describing her as “kind, smart, and dedicated,” and expressing the family’s affection for her. She voiced her belief that the country can do better to support military families like hers. “My son and daughter-in-law should be able to build their lives together in this nation that my son is committed to serving,” she added.
Currently, Ramos is being held at an ICE facility in Basile, Louisiana. Meanwhile, Blank remains determined to advocate for his wife’s release, stating, “I am proud to serve this country. I am proud to be her husband. And I will stand by her, no matter what it takes.”
