Sergent's Wife Faces Deportation Amid Immigration Policy Changes

Wed Apr 22 2026 05:37:13 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Deisy Rivera Ortega, wife of an Army sergeant, is detained as the Trump administration reverses leniency for military families on immigration.

In a troubling incident in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Deisy Rivera Ortega, the wife of active-duty soldier Jose Serrano, was arrested during an immigration appointment, raising concerns about new immigration policies affecting military families. The Department of Homeland Security stated that she entered the U.S. illegally, despite holding a valid work permit. Her husband argues that she should qualify for a 'parole in place' allowance, but recent policy changes indicate a stricter approach to enforcement. Rivera Ortega's case highlights the ongoing challenges immigrant families face, especially in light of changing regulations and the potential for deportation.

SANTA FE, N.M. — In an unsettling situation, Deisy Rivera Ortega, the wife of U.S. Army sergeant Jose Serrano, is currently detained at an immigration facility in El Paso, Texas. This incident has emerged as a stark indicator of the Trump administration’s shift towards more stringent immigration policies regarding military families.

On April 14, while attending an appointment aimed at pursuing her permanent residency, immigration agents arrested Rivera Ortega unexpectedly. Her husband, who has bravely served three tours in Afghanistan, recounted how they were escorted into a hallway where she was taken into custody without warning. He expressed his confusion and frustration at the lack of communication from authorities.

Now, Rivera Ortega is fighting back, having challenged her detention in court and requested a halt to her deportation to Mexico, where she has no connections and U.S. military personnel face restrictions on visits. Attorney Matthew James Kozik pointed out that Rivera Ortega previously held a valid work permit and had sought protections due to her unique circumstances.

Despite this, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed she entered the U.S. illegally in 2016 and that a removal order was issued in 2019. They reiterated that her work authorization does not grant her legal status.

Under the recently updated immigration enforcement policies, military service is no longer deemed sufficient to exempt families from potential immigration actions, leaving many families like Serrano and Rivera Ortega's in precarious situations. As these changes unfold, rights advocates are raising concerns about their implications for military families across the nation.