U.S. Deports Soldier’s Wife to Honduras, 7th Military Family Removal Under Trump Crackdown
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 25
U.S. Deports Soldier’s Wife to Honduras, 7th Military Family Removal Under Trump Crackdown
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 25
Summary
Cristy Maryori Villafranca-Trejo was deported to Honduras on Monday after being detained since July 11 near Fort Bliss, despite a pending appeal and a yearlong wait for military parole-in-place.
DHS said she received due process and was subject to a 2017 removal order issued after she missed an immigration hearing; her husband said she never got notice and learned of the order only after their 2022 marriage.
Her deportation is at least the seventh involving a spouse or parent of an active-duty service member, and AP found more than 50 immediate military family members have been placed in immigration detention since protections were rolled back.
Army Sgt. Hedar Leonel Turcios Juarez said caring for their 6-year-old daughter alone has already disrupted training and delayed a planned reassignment, raising doubts about whether he can continue serving.
Before Trump’s second administration, former ICE officials said military relatives with a path to legal status were typically allowed to stay; Rep. Veronica Escobar has opened a congressional inquiry into this case.