By Jenna Sundel
Copyright newsweek
Sergio Ramirez, an Illinois resident who had lived in the U.S. since he was 16, left the country on September 7 after months in immigration detention and returned to Zacatecas, Mexico, his wife told Chicago Sun-Times.Ramirez’s green card application had been improved prior to his detention, according to a letter written by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reviewed by Chicago Sun-Times.Why It MattersImmigration enforcement has been a key focus of the Trump administration. On President Donald Trump’s first day of his second term, he signed 10 executive orders and proclamations related to immigration. During the administration’s first 100 days, ICE reported that it arrested 66,463 undocumented immigrants and removed 65,682.What To KnowSergio Ramirez and his wife, Kristina Ramirez, were near the U.S.-Canada border on May 29 when they realized they were going the wrong way and turned around, Chicago Sun-Times reported. The husband and wife were pulled over, searched and questioned by federal agents, the outlet reported.Sergio told the outlet that he was detained for three months before deciding to self-deport after receiving advice from his lawyer.Kristina, a U.S. citizen who was born in Illinois, told the outlet that she was detained for three days. She said she showed her driver’s license, but DHS and ICE officers still questioned her about where her parents were born and accused her of being “illegal.”A CBP spokesperson previously told Newsweek that “the assertions Mrs. Ramirez was held by CBP for 3 days are a bold face lie.””CBP has no indication Mrs. Ramirez was held for 3 days. Her and her husband were referred to secondary for not having the proper U.S. travel documents on May 31,” the spokesperson said.Sergio told Chicago Sun-Times that he did not have any criminal record.”My husband has a legit Social Security number and his work permit. I’m an American citizen, and we have all our documents. Who’s thinking that, ‘Oh my God, they’re going to take us?'” Kristina said.The Department of Homeland Security told the outlet, “Being married to a U.S. citizen, or any pending application for a visa, does NOT shield an illegal alien from removal proceedings. All of his claims will be heard by an immigration judge. The Trump administration is not going to ignore the rule of law.”What People Are SayingA CBP spokesperson, in previous comments to Newsweek: “After inspection and questioning, CBP determined Mr. Ramirez is removable from the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act and was turned over to ICE. Mrs. Ramirez was subsequently admitted into the U.S. on June 1.”Sergio Ramirez, in comments to Chicago Sun-Times: “There’s a lot of people that came to the United States to work and better their lives, and not everybody’s the same. There’s some people that are bad, but not all of them. We still have a lot of good people out there.”Kristina Ramirez, in comments to Chicago Sun-Times: “My greatest fear already happened. My greatest fear was that he self-deported.”What Happens NextKristina Ramirez told the Chicago Sun-Times that she planned to travel to Mexico to reunite with her husband and explore whether he could return to the U.S. legally or if they would remain in Mexico.Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
