U.S. Army Veteran Urges Immigration Officials to Release His Wife Facing Deportation
A retired U.S. Army veteran is appealing to federal immigration officials for the release of his wife, who is facing deportation to Honduras. Retired Sergeant Wilmer Trujillo, who served nearly two decades in the military, expressed his distress over the situation, highlighting the emotional toll it has taken on their family.
Trujillo revealed that his wife, 40-year-old Aleris Barahona Martinez, was detained during a routine check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at their Dallas office. Speaking to CBS News, Trujillo described his heartbreak upon learning that Barahona Martinez would be “detained and deported.”
Having joined the military shortly after graduating high school in the late 1990s, Trujillo devoted four years to the Army followed by 16 years in the Texas National Guard, which included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He officially retired in 2021, clearly noting the sacrifices he’s made for his country.
Despite his sentiments, Trujillo emphasized he does not wish to harbor resentment toward ICE, though he finds the situation incomprehensible. “I love this country, but it breaks my heart to see my family torn apart,” he lamented. He views his wife as a foundational pillar for their family, underscoring the emotional strain they are experiencing.
The couple, who married in 2020, resides in Princeton, Texas, with Trujillo’s daughters from a previous marriage and Barahona Martinez’s 20-year-old son, all of whom are U.S. citizens and have medical conditions requiring specialized care. This close-knit family dynamic has developed considerably over the years.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Barahona Martinez was arrested on June 10 for illegally entering the United States, citing a deportation order that dates back over 20 years. They stated she underwent due process, having received a final removal order from an immigration judge in 2005.
Barahona Martinez’s immigration attorney, Mark Shmueli, pointed out that she has no criminal history. Barahona Martinez first entered the U.S. illegally in 2005, had her son, and returned to Honduras in 2006. She crossed the border again in 2018, motivated by urgent needs for her son’s medical treatment and safety from gang recruitment.
Her case highlights a disturbing trend, as detentions of military spouses have reportedly increased, especially under the previous administration that relaxed restrictions on such arrests. Trujillo hopes the media attention and their case’s circumstances will prompt intervention, similar to past instances where military spouses were released from ICE custody.
Shmueli believes Barahona Martinez deserves similar consideration due to her circumstances, including her marriage to a veteran and her son’s healthcare needs. He is actively seeking to reopen her deportation case in immigration court and plans to apply for special parole to protect her from deportation.
Trujillo urges ICE to reconsider their stance, asking for his wife to be allowed to manage her immigration case outside of detention. “I’m not asking for favors; I just want to keep my family together,” he said, expressing his desperation for understanding from immigration officials.
