Adrian Clouatre, a U.S. Navy veteran, is caught in a personal ordeal that underscores the strict enforcement of immigration policies under the Trump administration. His wife, Paola, 25, and mother of their two children, was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during her immigration status adjustment process.
Paola, originally from Mexico, entered the United States as a minor and sought asylum with her mother. On May 27, she was taken into custody during a routine appointment with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to obtain her green card. According to Adrian, Paola was unaware of a 2018 deportation order against her, emphasizing that she never intentionally broke the law: "She came here as a child and didn’t know about any order. If she had known, she wouldn’t be here."
ICE agents handcuffed her in the same government building where she had been hoping to progress in her permanent residency application initiated last year. The couple, parents to two young children—a toddler and a three-month-old infant—have filed a motion for an immigration judge to reopen Paola’s deportation case. In the meantime, Adrian, a disabled veteran, faces an eight-hour round trip to visit his wife at an ICE detention center in rural Monroe, Louisiana.
Impact on Military Families
This situation is not unique. Current directives mandate immigration officers to meet daily arrest quotas, significantly reducing discretion in sensitive cases like those involving military families. Experts note that previous practices protecting these families have been dismantled, putting even those attempting to legalize their status at risk of detention and deportation.
"It's a terrible way to treat a veteran," commented Carey Holliday, a former immigration judge and attorney for the Clouatre family. Their case is not isolated; it mirrors that of Shirly Guardado, wife of Sergeant Ayssac Correa, who was deported to Honduras in May while processing her legal residency under the Protection for Immigrant Parents of Military (PIP) program. Guardado, mother of a U.S. citizen child, was arrested without a warrant and deported without a hearing on her birthday.
Disillusionment Among Veterans
These cases highlight the growing disconnect between immigration policy and values such as family respect and commitment to those who serve the United States. "I feel completely let down. It feels like the country I’ve devoted so much to has stabbed me in the back," the serviceman expressed.
Common Questions About Military Families and Immigration Policies
What happens when a military family member is detained by ICE?
When a family member of a military personnel is detained by ICE, they might face deportation processes regardless of ongoing legal residency applications. The family can file motions to reopen cases, but the outcome depends on various factors, including existing deportation orders.
How do current immigration policies affect military families?
Current immigration policies have reduced the discretion previously afforded to immigration officers, resulting in more frequent detentions and deportations of military family members, even those seeking to legalize their status.