Newlywed wife of US soldier freed by ICE after detention at military base
Newlywed wife of US soldier freed by ICE after detention at military base
Staff Sergeant Matthew Blank’s spouse, Annie Ramos, a 22-year-old undocumented immigrant who arrived in the U.S. as a toddler, was recently released from ICE custody after being detained at the military base where her husband is stationed. The incident occurred just days following their marriage, leaving the couple in emotional turmoil. Ramos was arrested on April 2 and remained in detention for five days, alongside hundreds of others facing deportation under policies implemented during the Trump administration.
Immigration officials identified Ramos as a “Honduran illegal alien” and cited her attempt to access the military base as the reason for her arrest. “I feel awesome. Relieved. Relieved,” Blank told the New York Times after her release. “These have been the worst days of my life.” He added, “I can’t wait to carry my wife into our home and start our lives together,” expressing his readiness to serve alongside her.
“I’m complete and ready to serve our country. And it’s her country, too.”
Ramos, a biochemistry student, has since focused on securing her immigration status, continuing her studies, and building a life with her husband. “All I have ever wanted is to live with dignity in the country I have called home since I was a baby,” she said in a statement to the BBC. “I want to finish my degree, continue my education, and serve my community—just as my husband serves our country with honor.”
Blank, who enlisted over five years ago and has deployed to the Middle East and Europe, is set to begin training later this month. The couple had traveled from Houston to a Louisiana base to obtain a military ID for Ramos and activate her spouse benefits, with plans to relocate her to the base during Easter weekend. Instead, she was abruptly separated from her husband, described by Blank as “ripped away” from him.
During a visit to the base, the couple provided Ramos’s birth certificate, Honduran passport, their marriage license, and Blank’s military ID. “I never imagined that trying to do the right thing would lead to her being taken away from me,” Blank earlier told the BBC. “What was supposed to be the happiest week of our lives has turned into one of the hardest.”
ICE agents placed Ramos in handcuffs before transporting her in a military vehicle. The agency stated that detention is a “choice,” urging illegal aliens to use the CBP Home App to manage their departure. The U.S. government also offers financial incentives and a free flight for self-deportation.
As family members scrambled to contact immigration officials, Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona intervened. His office informed Blank that he would advocate for Ramos’s release. A spokesperson noted that Kelly also spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who was already aware of the case. “I’m happy Annie is back with her husband and family where she belongs,” Kelly told the BBC. “They never should have gone through this painful process, but far too many families like theirs are because of this administration.”
Homeland Security officials stated that Ramos entered the U.S. illegally in 2005 and received a final removal order after missing an immigration hearing. At the time, she was approximately two years old. Legal experts highlighted a shift in the administration’s approach, moving away from previous leniency toward military families in immigration cases. The detention has drawn criticism from advocates, who argue it harms the morale of service members. Gaby Pacheco, president of TheDream.US, called the case a “wake-up call.” “Detaining a 22-year-old biochemistry student who has lived here for two decades and is married to a U.S. Army staff sergeant preparing for deployment doesn’t make us safer—it weakens a military family, undermines our basic values, and exposes how far we’ve fallen as a nation,” she said.
