A U.S. Army sergeant has said he does not understand why his wife was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite the fact that she is subject to a deportation order.
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❓ WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Jose Serrano’s wife, Deisy Rivera Ortega, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during an appointment at an immigration office in El Paso, Texas, on April 14. Rivera Ortega, originally from El Salvador, has lived in the U.S. since 2016, but the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says she is a “criminal illegal alien” who has been subject to a deportation order since 2019. Nevertheless, Serrano announced on Wednesday that his wife would be released. 📺 DETAIL: Serrano, a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico, told the media, “I don’t really understand why [Ortega was detained], because she followed the rules of immigration by the T since day one,” adding: “ICE is out of control right now, sir, taking away rights, as soldiers, that we have.” However, a DHS spokesman has insisted Ortega was detained in accordance with a deportation order after receiving “full due process,” and that she is a “criminal illegal alien” convicted of illegal entry into the U.S. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “They said, ‘We cannot send her to El Salvador, but we gonna send her to Mexico.'” – Sgt. Jose Serrano 🎯 IMPACT: Ortega was granted protection under the Convention Against Torture at the same time as she was ordered deported, preventing removal to her native El Salvador. However, the Trump administration is using third-country deportation agreements to work around restrictions on sending illegals back to their home countries directly, most recently striking an agreement to transfer them to the Congo. |
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