DALLAS — A retired U.S. Army and Texas National Guard veteran is urging federal immigration authorities to release his wife from detention after she was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a scheduled immigration appointment in Texas this week, according to interviews and statements from the family and federal officials.
Retired Staff Sgt. Wilmer Trujillo said his wife, Arelys Barahona-Martinez, a Honduran national, was detained on Wednesday during a check-in appointment at an ICE office in Dallas. Trujillo, who served for roughly two decades in the military, said he was informed that his wife could face deportation.
In an interview with CBS News, Trujillo described the emotional impact of the detention on his family. “It rips my heart apart,” he said, calling on immigration authorities to allow his wife to remain in the United States while her case proceeds.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Barahona-Martinez entered the United States without legal authorization and later re-entered the country after departing, actions that DHS said made her subject to immigration enforcement. The agency said her detention was consistent with federal immigration law and denied allegations that officials had acted improperly.
Family members and supporters contend that Barahona-Martinez was actively pursuing legal avenues to remain in the United States and that her detention occurred while immigration proceedings were ongoing. Details regarding the status of those proceedings have not been fully disclosed in public records.
The case is the latest involving military families affected by immigration enforcement actions. In recent months, several spouses of active-duty service members and veterans have been detained during immigration appointments or other interactions with federal authorities. Some of those detainees were later released following legal challenges, advocacy efforts or intervention by elected officials.
Advocates for military families argue that detaining spouses can create hardships for service members and veterans and may disrupt family stability. Immigration enforcement officials have maintained that immigration laws apply regardless of family ties and that individual cases are evaluated under existing legal standards.
Trujillo said he hopes federal officials will exercise discretion in his wife’s case. Supporters have also called for her release while legal proceedings continue. DHS has not indicated whether Barahona-Martinez will be granted release or remain in custody pending further immigration action.
As of Saturday, Barahona-Martinez remained in ICE detention, according to family statements. Federal officials had not announced any change in her status, and the timing of future immigration hearings remained unclear.
