Summary
Wisconsin resident Bradley Bartell voted for Trump’s promise to crack down on “criminal illegal immigrants,” but now his Peruvian wife Camila Muñoz has been detained by ICE.
Muñoz, from Peru, overstayed her visa but had applied for legal residency. On their way home from a honeymoon, immigration agents detained her at a Puerto Rico airport.
Despite no criminal record, she remains in a Louisiana detention center. Her case reflects ICE’s broadened enforcement that now includes documented immigrants.
Bartell, once supportive of stricter immigration policies, now questions the impact on families like his own.
Thank you. This whole system is honestly a clusterfuck. Its been 11 years and we’re still fighting. I give immigrants more of a devils advocate than maybe I should because of our experience, but its hard not to because I’ve seen the shittiness of our current system. Its also why I hate the whole “ThEy ShOuLd JuSt CoMe HeRe LeGaLlY” argument. Its not that easy for so many of them. Its expensive (we’re at about 25k with probably more to be spent), overly complicated, and one single misstep sends you back to square one.
Luckily, we aren’t near a border, and in a purple state, so it’s not as dangerous here as other places. But it’s still terrifying with this administration.
Just don’t forget it’s a 100 miles from borders and coasts.
Stay safe, good luck, and if it comes down to it, maybe have your husband keep his original citizenship in case it makes more sense for you to both leave here.