ICE detains Marine veteran's wife during green card appointment

In the United States, specifically in Louisiana, a Marine Corps veteran's wife, Paola Clouatre, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a routine appointment for her green card on May 27, 2025. The couple had been optimistic about her application process, which was progressing smoothly until they learned of an old deportation order issued in 2018 due to her mother's failure to appear at an immigration hearing. Since then, Paola had been estranged from her mother, having entered the U.S. as a child seeking asylum. This lack of awareness about the deportation order complicated her situation. Following her arrest, Paola was taken to a detention center in Monroe, Louisiana, which is a significant distance from their home in Baton Rouge. Her husband, Adrian Clouatre, reported that the couple had tried to follow the legal processes available to them, believing that their marriage would allow for a straightforward path to obtaining legal residency for Paola. They had married in 2024 and were raising two young children together, including a three-month-old daughter whom Paola was breastfeeding at the time of her detainment. Adrian expressed deep concern over how to explain his wife's absence to their children, particularly as their son Noah asks for his mother. On the other hand, the couple's lawyer remarked on the harsh reality facing military families under the current immigration policies. Despite being a disabled veteran who served five years in the Marines, Adrian found that his wife's situation was not given the leniency traditionally afforded to military families in the past. The Department of Homeland Security's response was stern, emphasizing adherence to immigration laws and defining Paola's status as being in the country illegally, implying that her arrest was a necessary enforcement action. This detainment highlights the increasing challenges faced by immigrant families, particularly those intertwined with military service. Adrian Clouatre's plea for compassion reflects broader concerns within the immigrant community about the implications of strict immigration policies that lead to the separation of families. He believes strongly in the need to differentiate between those who contribute positively to society and those who do not, emphasizing that people like his wife, who work hard and love their families, deserve the opportunity to remain in the U.S. legally. The case has attracted attention due to its emotional weight and the stark realities of U.S. immigration enforcement under the current administration, illustrating how military families are caught in the crossfire of immigration policy enforcement.