Deisy Fidelina Rivera Ortega, the wife of an active-duty U.S. Army sergeant, was informed Wednesday that she would be deported to Mexico instead of being released from immigration detention, her attorney said. Rivera Ortega, an El Salvador native, was taken into custody on April 14 in El Paso during a routine immigration interview related to a "Parole in Place" application—a program designed to protect undocumented family members of U.S. military personnel.
Immediate Action & Core Facts
Rivera Ortega was initially told she would be released from detention after more than a week in custody. However, her attorney, Matthew Kozik, later learned from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials that she would instead be deported to Mexico. DHS confirmed in a statement that Rivera Ortega was arrested due to a 2019 final order of removal after being convicted of illegal entry, a federal misdemeanor. She entered the U.S. in 2016 and was released on bond.
Deeper Dive & Context
Background on the Case
Rivera Ortega, who works for IHG Army Hotels at Fort Bliss, has a valid work permit. Her husband, Sgt. First Class Jose Serrano, has served in the Army for 27 years, including three deployments in Afghanistan. Serrano told CBS News that his wife had been living in the U.S. for a decade before her arrest.
Legal and Policy Context
The "Parole in Place" program allows undocumented family members of U.S. military personnel to remain in the country legally. However, Rivera Ortega’s case was complicated by a 2019 deportation order. DHS stated that work authorization does not confer legal status to stay in the country. Kozik is preparing a court challenge to block her deportation.
Official Statements and Reactions
DHS did not address Kozik’s allegations directly but confirmed Rivera Ortega’s arrest and deportation order. The agency emphasized that she received full due process and that her work authorization did not grant her legal status. Kozik described the family as "heartbroken" after the reversal of the release decision.
Long-Term Implications
The case highlights the challenges faced by military families with mixed immigration statuses. It also raises questions about the enforcement of deportation orders against individuals with ties to active-duty service members.