Detentions of DACA Recipients and Military Spouses: A Growing Concern

Since January 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained over 260 recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, with more than 80 individuals deported. DACA, established in 2012, protects undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation and allows them to work legally. Despite this protection, many DACA recipients, including those with no criminal records, have been caught in a broader immigration crackdown.

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One notable case is that of Juan Chavez Velasco, a 35-year-old DACA recipient from Colombia. He was detained on February 18 while delivering breast milk to his premature daughter in a hospital NICU. Velasco, who has renewed his DACA status every two years and has no criminal history, has been held in a Texas detention center for seven weeks. His wife, Stephanie Villarreal, expressed disbelief that they would face such a situation, stating they believed the administration would not target DACA recipients. She noted that Velasco's DACA status expired while he was in detention, raising concerns about the renewal process, which has been delayed despite a court order mandating renewals.

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the detention, stating, "He is an illegal alien from Colombia and was issued a final order of removal in 2005. He received full due process. DACA does not confer any form of legal status in this country." Villarreal countered this narrative, emphasizing her husband's contributions to their family and community, and the emotional toll of his detention on their family.

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In a separate incident, Annie Ramos, a 22-year-old college student and newlywed, was detained by ICE just days after her wedding to U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Blank. The couple was at Fort Polk Army base to register Ramos for military benefits when she was arrested. Ramos, who entered the U.S. as a child from Honduras, had applied for DACA in 2020, but her application remains unresolved. Blank criticized the situation, stating, "I never imagined that trying to do the right thing... would lead to her being taken away from me."

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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has called for Ramos's release, arguing that she deserves to be honored rather than jailed. Blank has vowed to fight for his wife's return, emphasizing their desire to build a life together. Meanwhile, DHS has maintained that Ramos's detention was justified, citing her undocumented status and previous immigration order.

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These cases highlight the ongoing challenges faced by DACA recipients and undocumented immigrants in the U.S. The experiences of Velasco and Ramos reflect a growing concern about the treatment of individuals who, despite contributing positively to society, find themselves vulnerable to deportation under current immigration policies.

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• “Annie is everything you would hope for in a daughter-in-law.” — Jen Rickling, Mother-in-law of Annie Ramos

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• “Being in detention is a choice,” — DHS Statement on Annie Ramos's case

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