Kathmandu— President Donald Trump’s administration has detained dozens of parents and spouses of active-duty U.S. troops as it rolls back immigration protections for military families to pursue its mass deportation agenda. More than 50 parents and spouses have been detained since January 2025, with at least six deported and one self-deporting.

Detentions Undermine Military Readiness

Parents and spouses of people in the military have generally been shielded from deportation under bipartisan consensus for decades. However, the AP found they are now routinely being detained for months as they try to adjust their legal status through policies available to service members' close relatives. This reversal could undermine military preparedness even as the U.S. is at war in Iran.

Army Sgt. Hedar Leonel Turcios Juarez, stationed in Fort Bliss, Texas, said his wife was detained outside a Walmart in front of their 6-year-old daughter in July. 'How can I even focus on my military career because I have to worry about how my wife is doing?' he asked.

Impact on Service Members

Some service members are forced to take leave or delay deployments due to the detentions of their family members. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Wendy Gbeve, 30, hasn’t had a good night’s sleep since her father was detained and deported to Mexico in August. 'It’s the most frustrating, helpless feeling,' she said.

Army Staff Sgt. Alexis Jaramillo is on administrative leave caring for his stepson after his wife was detained during what they thought was a routine appointment at a USCIS office.

Shift in Policy

A new policy implemented in April 2025 states that 'military service alone does not exempt aliens from the consequences of violating U.S. immigration laws.' This marks a stark shift from previous administrations across the political spectrum, including Trump’s first administration.

Dan Gividen, who served as ICE’s deputy chief counsel under Trump, said during his time as an ICE prosecutor, immigration authorities rarely detained service members’ immediate family members unless they had committed violent crimes. 'The fact that they’re doing it now is just outrageous,' he added.

Recruiters Promote Immigration Benefits

Military recruiters still promote immigration benefits for troops' families as a selling point to enlist, despite the new policy changes. The Marine Corps officially stopped advertising enlistment as a way to protect immigrant family members in response to inquiries from the AP, but Army and National Guard recruiters continue to do so.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.