ICE set to deport wife of former US Marine, Iraq war veteran

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is reportedly set to deport the wife of a former U.S. Marine and Iraq combat veteran early next month.

Alejandra Juarez, 38, was notified on Tuesday that she will be deported back to Mexico in nine days, Military Times reported Wednesday.

She illegally crossed the southern border into the U.S. in 1998 and married former Marine Sgt. Cuauhtemoc “Temo” Juarez in 2000, the news outlet noted, adding that Temo Juarez served as an infantryman in the Marines from 1995 to 1999 and was deployed to both Africa and South America before later joining the Army National Guard in Orlando, Fla.

The family, which includes two daughters, would be split up if Alejandra Juarez’s deportation goes through, as she is planning to take 8-year-old Estela with her back to Mexico, according to Military Times.

Pamela, 16, would stay behind in the U.S. with her father.

Estela cried while talking to reporters earlier this month.

“I don’t want to go to Mexico, I want to stay here,” she said tearfully.

“Alejandra deserves to stay in the country she has called home for over 20 years, the country her husband patriotically served as a Marine and Florida National Guardsman. The only country her two American-born daughters have known,” said Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.), who has been fighting Alejandra Juarez’s deportation, according to Military Times.

The news outlet noted that Soto filed the “Patriot Spouses Act” on the family’s behalf but the bill has not been taken up by a House committee.

“We are utterly disappointed in the decision by ICE to deny Alejandra’s stay of removal,” Soto said in a statement. “We will continue the fight against the Trump administration’s heartless immigration policies tearing families apart.”

The family’s attorney, Chelsea Nowel, said Alejandra Juarez has no criminal record besides her illegal entry.

“The United States has a lot of policies in place to protect veterans and active duty and their families, and it is absolutely, incredibly, frustrating that these are not being made available to the wife of a decorated veteran who has served overseas multiple times,” Nowel said, according to Military Times.

“We are very hopeful we will be able to work with the Department of Homeland Security and with ICE to afford her an ability to stay,” Nowel added.

Alejandra Juarez’s illegal immigration status was flagged during a traffic stop in 2013, The Orlando Sentinel reported earlier this month.