A Marine Corps veteran is struggling to explain to his young children where their mother went after she was taken into custody by ICE. Adrian Clouatre's wife, Paola, a 25-year-old Mexican national, was detained while trying to secure a green card. This has left Adrian caring for their 2-year-old son and 3-month-old daughter alone. Paola entered the U. S. as a child seeking asylum with her mother, who failed to appear at an immigration hearing years ago. This led to a deportation order for Paola, which she was unaware of until recently.

Adrian and Paola met in California and married in 2024. They were working together to legalize Paola's status when she was detained during a green card appointment. Adrian believes his wife deserves to live legally in the U. S. , especially since she is married to an American veteran. He feels that ICE officers should have more discretion in such cases, particularly when dealing with military families.

The situation highlights a shift in policy under the current administration. Previously, families of military personnel or veterans often received more grace in deportation cases. However, recent memos indicate that this discretion is no longer granted. This change has led to confusion among recruiters who have been promoting enlistment as a way to protect family members from deportation. The Marine Corps has since clarified that recruiters are not authorized to make such promises.

Adrian visits his wife at a rural ICE detention center, making an eight-hour round trip from their home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The couple is waiting to hear back on a motion to reopen Paola's deportation case. Meanwhile, Adrian is left to care for their children, worried about the impact of his wife's absence on their newborn daughter's bonding and development.

VETERAN RIGHTS

Family Torn Apart: Marine Vet's Wife Detained by ICE

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