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 wife, Annie Ramos, a 22-year-old undocumented immigrant who arrived in the U.S. as a child, has been released from immigration detention. The incident occurred at the military installation where Blank is stationed, just days after their wedding, causing significant emotional strain for the couple.
“I feel amazing and relieved, repeating his sentiment. These have been the worst days of my life,” Blank told the New York Times following her release.
Ramos was arrested on 2 April and spent five days in a detention center, part of the broader immigration enforcement efforts under the Trump administration. Immigration officials labeled her as “an illegal alien from Honduras” and cited her attempt to enter the base as the reason for her arrest. The couple had traveled from Houston to the Louisiana base to secure a military ID for Ramos and begin accessing benefits for spouses, with plans to relocate her to the base during Easter weekend.
“I can’t wait to carry my wife into our home and start our lives together,” Blank said. “I’m complete and ready to serve our country. And it’s her country, too.”
Ramos, a biochemistry student, expressed her focus on obtaining legal status and continuing her education. “All I have ever wanted is to live with dignity in the country I have called home since I was a baby,” she stated to the BBC. “I want to finish my degree, continue my studies, and serve my community—just as my husband serves our country with honor.”
Homeland Security officials noted that Ramos entered the U.S. illegally in 2005 and was issued 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 prior leniency toward military families in immigration cases.
Detaining Ramos has sparked criticism from advocates, who argue it jeopardizes the morale of service members. Gaby Pacheco, president of TheDream.US, a group supporting undocumented immigrants, called the situation 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.
During an appointment at the base, the couple provided Ramos’s birth certificate, Honduran passport, and their marriage license to expedite her process. However, she was taken into custody in handcuffs by ICE agents and transported in a military vehicle. The agency emphasized that detention is a choice, promoting the CBP Home App as a tool for self-deportation, which includes financial incentives and a complimentary flight.
Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona intervened, contacting Blank to advocate for her release. A spokesperson noted that Kelly also spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who was already aware of the case. “They never should have gone through this painful process, but far too many families like theirs are because of this administration,” Kelly remarked after Ramos’s return.
