The wife of Army Sergeant Matthew Blank was arrested by ICE as soon as he reported to their Louisiana base.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement released Annie Ramos, 22, the wife of Army Sergeant Matthew Blank, who was arrested on April 2 after Matthew reported to his military base a few days after their wedding. Ramos was brought to the US as a child from Honduras and is undocumented, but her green card application was in the process when she was arrested. A DHS spokesperson said that Ramos will wear a GPS monitor as long as she remains free and that the government will continue removal proceedings against her. Ramos is eligible for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) but the program is on hold for new applicants due to legal hurdles. Ramos received a scholarship from TheDream.US, which helps undocumented youth pay for school. Undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens are eligible for marriage-based green cards. Relatives of soldiers are also eligible for other benefits and her husband said he was registering his wife’s name for this purpose when authorities asked him for US ID proof which he did not have – and he was ultimately arrested. Sergeant Blank said in a statement after Ramos’s arrest, “I never imagined that trying to do the right thing – registering my wife so she could get her military ID, getting the benefits she is entitled to as my spouse, and starting the process for her green card – she would be taken away from me.” “Instead of preparing for our future together, I’m now fighting for her freedom.”“I’m proud to serve this country. I’m proud to be her husband.” And I will stand by him, no matter what it takes,” Blank said of Ramos.DHS said the arrest was made under existing regulations as an undocumented individual attempted to enter a military base. A DHS spokesperson said, “He has no legal status to be in this country and was issued a final order of removal by a judge. This Administration will not ignore the rule of law. He crossed the southern border illegally and entered the US in February 2005. After failing to appear for his immigration hearing, he was issued a final order of removal by a judge on April 7, 2005.” She was 20 months old at that time.