On April 14, 2023, Deisy Rivera Ortega was detained by ICE during an immigration appointment in El Paso, Texas. This incident has raised alarm bells, not just for her but for many families navigating the complex U.S. immigration system. The stakes are high—her legal protections and family stability hang in the balance.
Rivera Ortega entered the U.S. in 2016 and has been a resident ever since. She married Jose Serrano in 2022, a U.S. service member with 27 years of military experience. In 2019, she was granted legal protection that prohibits her deportation to El Salvador, a fact that complicates her current situation. So why was she detained?
The Department of Homeland Security claims that Rivera Ortega entered the U.S. illegally and was ordered deported on December 12, 2019, after receiving what they described as “full due process.” Yet, this assertion raises questions about the fairness of the system—especially considering her active work permit and employment at two hotels inside Fort Bliss at the time of her detention.
Jose Serrano is understandably distraught. “I don’t really understand why,” he expressed, “because she followed the rules of immigration by the T since day one.” This sentiment echoes a broader frustration among families affected by recent changes in immigration enforcement policies. Historically, ICE has refrained from arresting immediate relatives of U.S. service members; however, detentions have increased under recent administrations.
Serrano submitted a Parole in Place application on behalf of Rivera Ortega, which is still pending. Yet uncertainty looms large—if she is deported to Mexico, where she has no ties, what then? Serrano fears he would be unable to see her without jeopardizing his military career. It’s a tragic irony: a soldier serving his country faces barriers to being with his family.
Matthew Kozik, an attorney representing Rivera Ortega, filed a habeas petition arguing that her detention is unlawful. He stated simply yet powerfully: “What is going on is absurd.” His words resonate with many who feel overwhelmed by an immigration system that seems increasingly punitive rather than protective.
As details unfold, we are left with uncertainties about the exact reasons for Rivera Ortega’s detention despite her legal protections. The outcome of her pending Parole in Place application remains unclear as well. Families like hers are left waiting—caught in a web of bureaucracy that can change lives overnight.
This situation illustrates a larger narrative about immigration enforcement in America today—where laws are often interpreted inconsistently and families bear the brunt of these policies. The question remains: How many more stories like Rivera Ortega’s will emerge before change occurs?