ICE Frees Army Soldier's Wife After Monthlong Detention In Texas
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released Deisy Rivera Ortega from custody on May 14, 2026, ending roughly one month of detention at an El Paso facility.[1]
Rivera Ortega is the wife of Sgt. 1st Class Jose Serrano, a 27-year U.S. Army veteran, and her detention has reportedly taken a serious toll on his mental health.[1] ICE detained her during an El Paso immigration appointment tied to a Parole in Place application.[1]
On April 14, 2026, Rivera Ortega was taken into ICE custody while seeking that parole-related relief at an El Paso appointment.[1] She has a 2019 deportation order and an illegal-entry misdemeanor, but she also holds Convention Against Torture protection that bars her return to El Salvador.[1]
White House border czar Tom Homan said last week he would look into the case and noted that ICE officers have discretion in whom they target.[1] Serrano and family members welcomed her release but the underlying immigration orders remain unresolved.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On April 14, 2026, ICE detained Deisy Rivera Ortega at an El Paso immigration appointment linked to a Parole in Place application.
- Rivera Ortega was released from ICE custody on May 14, 2026, after roughly one month of detention.
- She has a 2019 deportation order and an illegal-entry misdemeanor but also holds Convention Against Torture protection that bars her return to El Salvador.
- Her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Jose Serrano, is a 27-year U.S. Army veteran with three deployments to Afghanistan and reported serious mental health impacts from her detention.
- White House border czar Tom Homan said last week he would look into the case and noted ICE officers have discretion in whom they target.
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