Breaking News: A decorated US Army sergeant who has served his country for 27 years — including three deployments to Afghanistan — is now fighting a different battle on American soil: keeping his wife from being deported to Mexico, a country neither of them has any ties to, while he is unable to follow her there due to military travel restrictions.
What Happened
Deisy Fidelina Rivera Ortega was taken into custody on April 14 in El Paso, Texas, while attending an interview for "Parole in Place" — a program designed to allow undocumented family members of military personnel to remain in the US legally. Rivera Ortega is married to Sgt. 1st Class Jose Serrano, stationed at Fort Bliss, who has been deployed to Afghanistan three times. He told ABC News he and his wife have been "doing everything by the book."
Key Details
She Was Following the Rules. Rivera Ortega had a valid work permit through 2030 and was previously granted withholding of removal from her home country, El Salvador, in 2019. She was attending a legal appointment specifically designed for military spouses.
The Arrest. "At the end of the hallway, my wife was apprehended — they put handcuffs on and they took her away," Serrano told ABC News. "I don't really understand why, because she followed the rules of immigration by the T since day one."
The Third-Country Threat. She cannot be deported to El Salvador — a court ruled that in 2019. So DHS is threatening Mexico instead — a country she has never lived in, with no family, no connections, and no support network.
Military Cannot Travel to Mexico. "In the Army, travel to Mexico is extremely restrictive," said the couple's attorney Matthew Kozik. "He couldn't even just go see his wife."
ICE's Own Words. Serrano told CBS: "They really don't care, sir. They said 'we cannot send her to El Salvador, but we gonna send her to Mexico.'"
The Human Toll. Serrano has been treated for a traumatic brain injury, PTSD and depression — conditions that have worsened since his wife's detention. "Since this happened, I'm sleeping only two hours a day, two hours a night," he said.
"ICE Is Out of Control." "I love the Army. The Army helped me out for almost 28 years. It's not the Army, sir. It's ICE," Serrano said. "ICE is out of control right now, sir, taking away rights, as soldiers, that we have."
The Legal Fight. Attorney Matthew Kozik — a former Army judge advocate and Bronze Star recipient — filed a habeas petition in federal court. "I served the Army as a judge advocate for 10 years. What is going on is absurd."
A Broken Promise. Last April, DHS eliminated the policy treating military service as a "significant mitigating factor" in enforcement decisions. The new rule states "military service alone does not exempt aliens from the consequences of violating US immigration laws."
Why It Matters
Sgt. Serrano volunteered for three war deployments. He came home carrying a traumatic brain injury and PTSD. He followed every rule. He submitted his wife's application. He brought her to the right office for the right appointment. And the government arrested his wife in front of him and is threatening to send her somewhere he cannot follow.
Military readiness advocates warn this sends a devastating message to current and future service members: America will ask you to risk your life, but it will not protect your family in return.
Latest Updates
🔴 Deisy Rivera Ortega detained at El Paso processing center since April 14
🔴 DHS threatens deportation to Mexico — couple has no ties there
🔴 Sgt. Serrano cannot travel to Mexico due to military restrictions
✅ Attorney Kozik files habeas petition in federal court
🔴 Serrano's PTSD, TBI, and depression worsening
🔴 DHS eliminated military family mitigating factor policy last April
🔴 Military readiness advocates warning of recruitment and morale damage
🔴 Case now pending in federal court
Conclusion
Sgt. First Class Jose Serrano served the United States in three wars. His wife followed every immigration rule, held a valid work permit, showed up to her legal appointment — and was handcuffed and taken away.
Now she faces deportation to a country she has never lived in, while her husband — bound by military restrictions — could be left unable to see her. He is a veteran with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury, sleeping two hours a night since she was taken.
America asks its soldiers to sacrifice everything. The least it can do is not deport their families while they are still serving.
Stay with us as this case moves through federal court.Read More...
FAQ
Q1: What happened to
Deisy Rivera Ortega?
She was detained by ICE on April 14
while attending a legal Parole in Place
appointment in El Paso. She had a valid
work permit and a 2019 court order
protecting her from deportation to
El Salvador. DHS is now threatening
to deport her to Mexico — a third country
where the couple has no ties.
Q2: Why can't Sgt. Serrano
follow his wife to Mexico?
As an active-duty military member,
Serrano faces extremely restrictive
travel regulations to Mexico. His
attorney confirmed that even if his
wife were deported there, he could
not go to visit her without risking
his military career.
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