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Cristy Maryori Villafranca-Trejo, an active-duty US soldier's wife, was deported to Honduras on Monday, according to her family and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This marks the seventh instance of a military spouse or parent being deported under Donald Trump's second presidency. The Associated Press has uncovered over 50 cases where immediate family members of US troops were placed in federal immigration detention following the rollback of protections for military families by the Trump administration.

Villafranca-Trejo's husband, army Sgt Hedar Leonel Turcios Juarez, has been struggling to manage his duties since her deportation on July 11 outside a Walmart near Fort Bliss, Texas, where he is stationed. He has been caring for their six-year-old daughter without his wife's help, while also postponing a planned assignment at another base.

Turcios Juarez expressed concern over his ability to continue his military career while fulfilling his family responsibilities. The DHS stated that Villafranca-Trejo had received due process, having received a final order of removal in 2017 after failing to appear at a hearing. Her husband noted that she had no knowledge of the hearing and was unaware of her deportation until they attempted to apply for her green card in 2022.

Villafranca-Trejo's motion to reopen her case was denied in May, and her appeal before the Board of Immigration Appeals remains pending. Her attorney stated that Villafranca-Trejo had followed the rules and done everything in her power to resolve the issue. Turcios Juarez emphasized that they had adhered to all procedures, expressing frustration over the situation.

Before Trump's second term, ICE typically permitted immediate family members of US troops to adjust their legal status despite having a final order of removal. Dan Gividen, a former ICE deputy chief counsel from 2016 to 2019, explained that such actions were taken to allow military spouses to apply for a green card, ensuring they could remain in the country during the process.

Jurisdictional Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from El Paso, has initiated a congressional investigation into Villafranca-Trejo's case and visited her at the Camp East Montana detention facility in Texas. Escobar expressed her sympathy for the family, highlighting the numerous families who are being targeted rather than supported.

Despite the deportation, Turcios Juarez remains committed to his military service, vowing to continue his work while grappling with the challenges of caring for his daughter alone.