- Army Sgt Hedar Leonel Turcios Juarez said his wife was detained outside a Walmart in front of his six-year-old daughter, and he asked: 'How can I even focus on my military career because I have to worry about how my wife is doing?'
- Air force tech Sgt Wendy Gbeve's father, Luis Alberto Ramirez Zavala, was detained at a routine USCIS interview in Missouri and later deported to Mexico.
- A handful of detentions prompted public backlash and intervention by homeland security secretary (likely a misnomer; the citation says Markwayne Mullin but he is a senator) to secure releases. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not compile data on these cases, and the actual number is likely higher than the 51 cases AP found.
- Air force tech Sgt Wendy Gbeve said her father, Luis Alberto Ramirez Zavala, was detained at a routine USCIS interview and later deported to Mexico. She described it as the most frustrating, helpless feeling.
- Experts warn the reversal could undermine military preparedness, leaving service members without emotional support and caretakers for their children, delaying deployments, and forcing some to take leave.
An Associated Press investigation finds that a sweeping immigration crackdown has detained more than 50 spouses and parents of active-duty service members, raising questions about military readiness as protections for military families erode. The AP documented cases where at least six deportations, and eight immediate family members in federal custody. The Department of Homeland Security says it does not compile data on these cases, and the AP’s reporting notes the actual number is probably higher than the 51 cases AP found.
“How can I even focus on my military career because I have to worry about how my wife is doing?” said Army Sgt Hedar Leonel Turcios Juarez, who was stationed at Fort Bliss when his wife was detained outside a Walmart with their six-year-old daughter.1
“It’s the most frustrating, helpless feeling,” said Air Force tech Sgt Wendy Gbeve about her father’s detention during a routine USCIS interview in Missouri, leaving her to care for his stepson alone.2348910
Experts warn that the reversal could undermine military preparedness even as the US is at . The policy has left military members without emotional support and caretakers for their children, delayed deployments and forced some to take leave.1112
A handful of detentions prompted public backlash and led to intervention by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to secure their release.567
The Department of Homeland Security has said it does not compile data on these cases. The AP notes that the scope may be broader and highlights how recruitment ads tout immigration benefits for enlistees’ families.
These details underscore a broader question about how immigration enforcement intersects with military service, as families face detention during what were thought to be routine appointments and as troops see potential effects on readiness and morale.
“Army Sgt Hedar Leonel Turcios Juarez said his wife was detained outside a Walmart in front of their six-year-old daughter, leaving him unable to focus on his career. Air force tech Sgt Wendy Gbeve described her father's deportation as 'the most frustrating, helpless feeling,' while DHS says it does not track these cases.”
theguardian.com
