A comprehensive investigation published by the Associated Press (AP) has revealed that since the start of President Donald Trump's second term, at least 52 spouses or parents of active-duty US service members have been taken into custody by immigration authorities.
According to the AP investigation, at least six of these individuals have been deported, and one left the country voluntarily. At least eight military relatives remain in federal immigration custody.
The news agency reported that some military relatives were detained even while their applications for immigration benefits such as "military parole-in-place" were pending, or during immigration appointments they attended to regularize their legal status.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told the AP, "Service in the US military alone does not automatically confer legal immigration status or exempt an individual from the consequences of violating immigration laws."
This approach signals a policy shift from the special considerations previously afforded to military relatives in immigration proceedings under past administrations. While the "military parole-in-place" program still exists, it is now evaluated on a case-by-case basis rather than as an automatic entitlement.