Marine Veteran’s Wife Detained by ICE Despite Ongoing Green Card Process

Family left in limbo as Biden-era protections rescinded under Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown

Tone & Political Bias: Moderately Left Leaning

Why: The article emphasizes the emotional toll on a veteran’s family, critiques the lack of discretion for military families, and questions the administration’s aggressive enforcement approach.

The Situation

Marine Corps veteran Adrian Clouatre is struggling to care for his two young children after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained his wife, Paola Clouatre, during a green card application appointment. The detention, part of a broader immigration enforcement drive under President Trump’s second term, has highlighted the rollback of discretionary protections previously extended to military families.

What Happened

Paola Clouatre, a 25-year-old Mexican national, was detained by ICE on May 27 during a scheduled U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) green card appointment.
She had been living in the U.S. for over a decade after arriving as a minor seeking asylum with her mother.
ICE acted on a 2018 deportation order issued after Paola’s mother missed an immigration court hearing—a fact Paola says she only recently learned.
Paola is now held at an ICE detention center in Monroe, Louisiana, an eight-hour round trip from the family’s home in Baton Rouge.

Impact on the Family

Adrian, a service-disabled Marine veteran, now cares for their two children alone, including a breastfeeding infant.
He says he’s been forced to lie to his toddler about why his mother is gone and fears the long-term impact on their newborn’s development.
Adrian insists the family “tried to do the right thing,” initiating legal steps to regularize Paola’s status through marriage.

Changes in Immigration Enforcement

Under prior administrations, including parts of the Trump and Obama years, USCIS often exercised discretion in cases involving veterans’ families.
A February 2025 DHS memo formally ended such discretion. It stated that exemptions for military families would no longer apply.
As of June 12, 2025, DHS confirmed over 26,000 cases have been referred for deportation that would previously have been paused or reconsidered.

Government Position

A DHS spokesperson stated Paola is “in the country illegally” and must face legal consequences.
USCIS issued a public statement reinforcing that ignoring a judge’s removal order has consequences, indirectly referencing Clouatre’s case.
The agency asserts that protecting national security includes strict enforcement of immigration law, regardless of personal circumstances.

Legal Efforts Underway

The couple’s lawyer, former immigration judge Carey Holliday, has filed a motion to reopen Paola’s removal case.
They argue that Paola was unaware of the order and did not intentionally defy immigration law.
Advocates claim the current policy is overly punitive, especially toward families of U.S. veterans.

Recruiting Controversy

Military recruiters had previously promoted enlistment among immigrants as a potential pathway to protect family members from deportation.
These messages remain on some official channels, despite the fact that such protections are no longer guaranteed.
Marine Corps leadership has since issued internal guidance clarifying that recruiters should not suggest enlistment leads to immigration benefits.

Broader Context

ICE arrests have topped 100,000 in President Trump’s current term as part of a new directive to average 3,000 arrests per day.
Legal analysts note that targeting military families breaks precedent and further undermines trust in the immigration system.
Paola’s case is emblematic of a wider shift: discretionary relief for mixed-status families is rapidly disappearing.