The wife of a retired Army Special Forces veteran is facing possible deportation, despite legal provisions allowing spouses of military personnel and veterans to remain in the country.
Military Times reported Wednesday that Elia Crawford, 44, the wife of Ret. Sgt. 1st Class Bob Crawford, 52, could be deported if a Virginia immigration court rules against her on Monday.
Elia fled her home country of Honduras in 1999 following Hurricane Mitch. She married Bob Crawford in 2001 when he was still on active duty. The couple has two sons — a nine-year-old and a 12-year-old.
{mosads}
Spouses of active duty troops or veterans are eligible for a type of relief called “Parole in Place” that allows them to remain in the U.S. and pursue a green card if they entered illegally.
But Elia cannot take advantage of that program, because she is currently under a deportation order. According to Military Times, the Homeland Security Department will not lift the order.
The Crawfords’ lawyer, Leticia Corona, told Military Times that getting deportation orders lifted was easier under previous administrations, but has gotten more difficult under the Trump administration.
President Trump campaigned on a promise to crack down on illegal immigration. His administration has sought to step up deportations of immigrants residing in the U.S. illegally.
“I know the military takes care of families — because I lived it for 20 years,” Bob Crawford told Military Times. “I just feel, right now, we’re caught in this limbo.”