ICE detains wife of US veteran in latest detention of military spouse

June 12, 2026

Arelys Barahona Martinez, wife of retired US Army Staff Sergeant Wilmer Trujillo, was detained by ICE during a routine immigration check-in in Dallas and transferred to an Oklahoma detention facility. Martinez, originally from Honduras, had crossed the border illegally in 2005 and received a removal order she was allegedly unaware of, then returned in 2018 under supervised release. Her detention represents part of a broader pattern, as at least two other military spouses were similarly detained during immigration appointments in recent months under the Trump administration.

Who is affected

Arelys Barahona Martinez (detained spouse)
Retired Staff Sergeant Wilmer Trujillo (US Army veteran husband)
Barahona Martinez's 20-year-old son
Trujillo's two daughters from a previous marriage
Deisy Rivera Ortega (wife of active-duty US Army soldier, detained in April)
Annie Ramos (wife of active-duty US soldier, detained in April)
113 immediate relatives of former US service members who received notices to appear (January 2025-January 2026)
282 aliens including former US Armed Forces members and their immediate family members placed in removal proceedings
US military families with noncitizen members generally

What action is being taken

Barahona Martinez is being held in ICE custody pending removal from the US
Attorney Mark Shmueli is working to have the 2005 removal order rescinded
Shmueli has filed a motion in Texas court to prevent her deportation until a judge hears the case
ICE has acknowledged the motion and indicated her case could be eligible for a stay

Why it matters

This case demonstrates a significant policy shift in how immigration enforcement treats military families, with the Trump administration removing protections that previously treated service by noncitizens' immediate family members as a mitigating factor in enforcement decisions. The detention of multiple military spouses during routine immigration appointments raises questions about whether the government adequately values the sacrifices made by military families. The situation affects not only individual families being separated but also signals a stricter interpretation of immigration laws that could impact hundreds of military families with undocumented members, potentially undermining military morale and recruitment.

What's next

Barahona Martinez will remain in ICE custody pending removal from the US
A Texas judge will hear the case regarding the motion to prevent deportation
ICE will make a determination on whether her case is eligible for a stay of removal

Read full article from source: BBC