US Army sergeant’s wife told she’d be released, instead faces deportation to Mexico, attorney says

An attorney representing the wife of an active-duty U.S. Army sergeant has revealed that she was unexpectedly informed of her impending release from immigration detention after over a week in custody, only to be faced with the grim reality of deportation to Mexico. Deisy Fidelina Rivera Ortega was apprehended on April 14 in El Paso during a routine immigration interview related to a “Parole in Place” application, a program designed to provide undocumented family members of U.S. military personnel with legal status in the country.

Despite receiving information indicating that Rivera Ortega would be released on Wednesday afternoon, her legal team was shocked to discover that she was instead slated for deportation. Matthew Kozik, the attorney handling her case, expressed his dismay at the sudden turn of events, stating that immigration officials had initially instructed Rivera Ortega to prepare for her release, only to later inform her that she would be deported to Mexico.

In response to the attorney’s claims, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a statement asserting that Rivera Ortega, a native of El Salvador, had been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for illegal entry into the U.S. in 2016. Despite being granted work authorization and withholding of removal from El Salvador, she had received a final order of removal in 2019 and was currently in ICE custody pending deportation.

Kozik emphasized Rivera Ortega’s right to a credible fear interview, a crucial screening process for individuals expressing fear of deportation to certain countries, and revealed that he had filed a habeas petition seeking her release. Additionally, he disclosed plans to submit a writ of mandamus to the 5th Circuit, compelling the court to take action in her case.

Rivera Ortega, who is employed at IHG Army Hotels at Fort Bliss, holds a valid work permit until 2030 and has been married to Sgt. 1st Class Jose Serrano, a dedicated Army sergeant with multiple deployments to Afghanistan. Serrano, who has been grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder, voiced his distress over his wife’s detention, lamenting the toll it has taken on his mental health.

As the legal battle for Rivera Ortega’s release intensifies, her supporters are rallying behind her in a bid to prevent her deportation and reunite her with her family. The unfolding saga serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges faced by immigrant families with ties to the U.S. military, underscoring the need for compassion and understanding in navigating the country’s immigration system.