Changes in DHS Enforcement for Noncitizen Spouses of US Military Personnel
美國軍方人員非公民配偶的 DHS 執法變動
Introduction
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has increased the detention of undocumented spouses of US military members. This change happens as the government focuses more on removing noncitizens who have broken the law in the past.
美國國土安全部 (DHS) 加強了對美國軍人非法居留配偶的拘留。此次變動是因為政府目前更專注於將過去違法的人員驅逐出境。
Main Body
The case of Arelys Barahona Martinez, the wife of a retired US Army Staff Sergeant, shows this new approach. Ms. Barahona Martinez was arrested during an immigration appointment in Texas and moved to a facility in Oklahoma. DHS officials emphasized that they must follow the law, citing a 2005 order to remove her from the country. This is not an isolated event; other spouses of active-duty personnel, such as Deisy Rivera Ortega and Annie Ramos, were also detained in April.
Arelys Barahona Martinez 的案例體現了這種新做法，她是美國陸軍一名退休一級軍士長的妻子。Barahona Martinez 女士在德克薩斯州參加移民面試期間被捕，隨後被移送到俄克拉荷馬州的一處設施。DHS 官員強調他們必須遵守法律，並引用了 2005 年的一項將其驅逐出境的命令。這並非單一事件；其他現役人員的配偶，例如 Deisy Rivera Ortega 和 Annie Ramos，也在 4 月被拘留。
This shift happened because a previous policy from the Biden era was replaced in April 2025. In the past, having immediate family members in the military was considered a strong reason to avoid enforcement. However, the new guidelines do not mention family members, which means these protections are gone. Consequently, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has rejected many 'parole in place' applications, including one for Ms. Barahona Martinez in November 2024.
這種轉變是因為拜登時代之前的一項政策在 2025 年 4 月被取代。過去，擁有軍隊直系親屬被視為避免執法的強有力理由。然而，新指南中未提及家屬，這意味著這些保護已不復存在。因此，美國公民及移民服務局 (USCIS) 拒絕了許多「原地假釋」(parole in place) 申請，包括 2024 年 11 月 Barahona Martinez 女士的申請。
At the same time, the administration is focusing more on removing noncitizens with criminal records. DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis reported that nearly 70% of ICE arrests involve people charged with crimes in the US. Recent operations have targeted dangerous offenders, such as those convicted of narcotics trafficking. Furthermore, data shows that between January 2025 and January 2026, 282 immediate relatives of former service members were placed in removal proceedings after their parole requests were denied.
與此同時，政府更加專注於驅逐有刑事紀錄的非公民。DHS 代理助理部長 Lauren Bis 報告指出，近 70% 的 ICE 逮捕行動涉及在美國被指控犯罪的人員。最近的行動針對危險罪犯，例如被定罪販賣毒品的人。此外，數據顯示在 2025 年 1 月至 2026 年 1 月期間，共有 282 名前軍人的直系親屬在假釋申請被拒後，被列入驅逐出境程序。
Conclusion
The US government continues to remove undocumented military spouses, asserting that being married to a service member does not give someone automatic legal status or protection from immigration laws.
美國政府繼續驅逐非法居留的軍人配偶，並聲明與軍人結婚並不意味著能自動獲得合法身份或免於移民法的約束。
Vocabulary Learning
🚀 The 'B2 Bridge': Moving from Simple to Logical Connections
At the A2 level, students usually connect ideas with simple words like and, but, or because. To reach B2, you need Logical Connectors (Transition Words). These make your writing sound professional and academic rather than basic.
🔍 The 'Cause and Effect' Upgrade
Look at this sentence from the text:
"However, the new guidelines do not mention family members... Consequently, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has rejected many... applications."
The A2 way: "The rules changed so they rejected the applications." The B2 way: "The rules changed; consequently, they rejected the applications."
Why this matters: Consequently tells the reader that the second event happened as a direct result of the first. It is formal and precise.
🛠️ Your B2 Toolbox: Contrast & Addition
To stop sounding like a beginner, replace your basic words with these 'Power Connectors' found in the article:
| Instead of... (A2) | Use this... (B2) | Example from Text |
|---|---|---|
| But | However | "However, the new guidelines do not mention family members..." |
| Also | Furthermore | "Furthermore, data shows that..." |
| Like | Such as | "...dangerous offenders, such as those convicted of narcotics trafficking." |
💡 Pro-Tip for Fluency
Notice how Furthermore and Consequently often appear at the start of a sentence followed by a comma. This creates a rhythm in English that signals to the listener: "Wait, I am adding a new point" or "Now I am telling you the result."