Latest news with #CoastGuardsman
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's War on the Vulnerable Has Now Reached Military Families
The family residential section of U.S. Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, is usually a very pleasant place, with military families from the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps enjoying the sunny respite of a golden duty station like Key West. At least it was until the Department of Homeland Security and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, under the direction of Donald Trump's lackeys, abandoned their vital mission of keeping military families safe and instead became a Gestapo-like force imprisoning them. Just when you thought the Trump administration couldn't sink any lower, it just moved to deport the wife of an active-duty Coast Guardsmen. The military spouse's crime? An expired work visa. It is unclear if any children had to witness this act of terror in the very place they should be safest, a military family community. DHS oversees both Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Coast Guard. Using their knowledge and inside information, DHS officials have turned their power against one of their own, arresting an active duty Coast Guard wife who was attempting to find on-base housing at Naval Air Station Key West. There has been debate on whether the arrested military spouse was home alone, with her husband being deployed or on temporary duty somewhere, as the Associated Press reported that the Coast Guardsman's ship, the USCGC Mohawk (WMEC-913), has been in port at Key West since mid-March. Either way, what a dastardly move by the Trump Administration to attack someone and their family who has done more for this country than Trump ever could. After returning from a long deployment defending democracy, the Coast Guardsman's reward will be having his wife deported. As tales spread of judges being detained and arrested for 'interfering' with immigration operations, federal and local law enforcement personnel flinch at the prospect of defying illegal orders from the Trump Administration, facing threats of arrest and career-ending repercussions. At the same time, Jose Barco, a U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient, sits in a Texas detention center awaiting deportation. Barco fought in Iraq, survived a traumatic brain injury and PTSD, and tried to become a citizen, only to have his application lost by the very system he fought for. After returning home broken and untreated, Barco spiraled and committed a tragic crime. After he served his time, he now faces exile to Venezuela, a country that refuses to accept him. It is unclear whether the Coast Guardsman will face any disciplinary action, as the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) does not cover immigration law. But don't count out the Trump administration and its extreme cruelty toward migrants. They have already shown a willingness to weaponize immigration law by digging up defunct statutes like the Alien Enemies Act, no matter how flimsy the rationale. Now, people across the military are taking notice. Word is spreading fast through the ranks that not even service members or their families are safe from Trump and Stephen Miller's draconian assault on those they label 'illegal.' If a Purple Heart doesn't protect you, nothing will. If active-duty military personnel and their families, with guns and guards, aren't safe from Trump and his minions, how safe are you? Americans must take heed of this. Trump will go down in history as one of the cruelest presidents in American history — here's looking at you, Andrew Jackson and all the slaveholding presidents — and possibly the worst. In the first 100 days, Trump has arguably done more damage to this nation than any other president. No one is coming to save our active duty military members, our veterans, our senior citizens, or our migrant neighbors. The only person who can save you is you. Organize, act, resist. Before it is too late. More from Rolling Stone Trump Melts Down Over Plummeting Popularity, Says Pollsters Are 'Criminals' Lawyers for Deported U.S. Citizen Kids Say Moms Were 'Coerced' Into Taking Them John Oliver Slams RFK Jr.: 'Clearly in Way Over His Worm-Riddled Head' Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
Coast Guardsman's wife arrested for expired visa after security check
The wife of an active-duty Coast Guardsman was arrested last week by federal immigration authorities inside the family residential section of the U.S. Naval Air Station at Key West, Florida, after she was flagged in a routine security check, officials said Saturday. 'The spouse is not a member of the Coast Guard and was detained by Homeland Security Investigations pursuant to a lawful removal order,' said Coast Guard spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Steve Roth in a statement confirming Thursday's on-base arrest. 'The Coast Guard works closely with HSI and others to enforce federal laws, including on immigration.' According to a U.S. official, the woman's work visa expired around 2017, and she was marked for removal from the United States a few years later. She and the Coast Guardsman were married early this year, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an enforcement incident. Though the Trump administration has made immigration arrests a top priority for federal law enforcement, it did not immediately appear the on-base arrest of the military spouse was part of a broader sweep. The official said that when the woman and her Coast Guard husband were preparing to move into their on-base housing on Wednesday, they went to the visitor control center to get a pass so she could access the Key West installation. During the routine security screening required for base access, the woman's name was flagged as a problem. Base personnel contacted the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which looked into the matter, said the official. NCIS and Coast Guard security personnel got permission from the base commander to enter the installation and then went to the Coast Guardsman's home on Thursday, the official said. They were joined by personnel from Homeland Security Investigations, a unit within Immigration and Customs Enforcement. HSI eventually took the spouse into custody, and the official said they believe she is still being detained. Officials did not provide the name of the country she is from. The Coast Guard referred questions about the woman's identity, immigration status and charges to ICE, which did not respond to a request for comment on Saturday. The Department of Homeland Security also did not respond to a request for comment. The husband of the arrested woman is a Coast Guardsman assigned to the cutter Mohawk, a 270-foot-long cutter based at Key West. The couple was moving into U.S. government housing at the nearby Naval Air Station. An online database that tracks ship movements shows the Mohawk has been docked in its home port since mid-March. A March 16 media release says the ship had recently returned following a 70-day deployment to the Eastern Pacific Ocean on a mission to intercept shipments of illegal drugs. In a statement, the Navy said that it 'fully cooperated with federal law enforcement authorities on this matter. We take security and access at naval installations seriously.' Associated Press writer Rebecca Santana contributed to this report.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Yahoo
Spouse of active-duty Coast Guard service member detained by immigration agents on base
Federal immigration agents arrested the spouse of an active-duty Coast Guardsman on Thursday on-base at Naval Air Station Key West. The Coast Guardsman and spouse were at the government housing area on the base on April 24 when agents of Homeland Security Investigations, a part of Immigration and Custom Enforcement or ICE. The family was in the process of moving onto the base in Florida. Reports of the arrest were posted to social media, including military subreddits on Reddit. The Coast Guard confirmed to Task & Purpose that the spouse of an active-duty member of the Coast Guard was taken into custody. 'The Coast Guard is aware of a law enforcement action by federal authorities involving the spouse of a Coast Guard service member,' a Coast Guard spokesman told Task & Purpose on Saturday. 'The spouse is not a member of the Coast Guard and was detained by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) pursuant to a lawful removal order. The Coast Guard works closely with HSI and others to enforce federal laws, including on immigration.' The Associated Press, citing an unnamed official familiar with the incident, reported additional details. The couple was moving into on-base housing at the naval base and the wife's name was flagged while undergoing a screening to get a pass to go onto the base. Per the official, the woman's work visa expired in 2017 and was later marked for removal from the country. She and the Coast Guardsman got married earlier this year. The Associated Press reports that base security as well as Naval Criminal Investigative Service were contacted after the woman's information was flagged. They went to the couple's home on base, along with HSI agents, who detained her. The Coast Guard is a part of the Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard member serves aboard the cutter the USCGC Mohawk, which is based out of Key West, in Coast Guard District 7. The cutter had been at port since mid-March. Task & Purpose reached out to ICE and the specific Coast Guard district for more information but as of press time has not heard back. It is not clear what will happen to the wife next or if she is still currently being detained by immigration agents. Top enlisted leader of Air Force Special Operations Command fired amid investigation The Marine in one of the most famous recruiting commercials is now in Congress 75th Ranger Regiment wins 2025 Best Ranger Competition Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer reenlists in Marine Reserve Air Force pilots get a new way to pee at 30,000 feet
CBS News
27-04-2025
- CBS News
U.S. Coast Guardsman's wife arrested in Key West over expired visa after security check for military housing
The wife of an active-duty Coast Guardsman was arrested earlier this week by federal immigration authorities inside the family residential section of the U.S. Naval Air Station at Key West, Florida, after she was flagged in a routine security check, officials said Saturday. "The spouse is not a member of the Coast Guard and was detained by Homeland Security Investigations pursuant to a lawful removal order," said Coast Guard spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Steve Roth in a statement confirming Thursday's on-base arrest. "The Coast Guard works closely with HSI and others to enforce federal laws, including on immigration." The arrest happened on move-in day at the base According to a U.S. official, the woman's work visa expired around 2017, and she was marked for removal from the United States a few years later. She and the Coast Guardsman were married early this year, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an enforcement incident. Though the Trump administration has made immigration arrests a top priority for federal law enforcement, it did not immediately appear the on-base arrest of the military spouse was part of a broader sweep. The official said that when the woman and her Coast Guard husband were preparing to move into their on-base housing on Wednesday, they went to the visitor control center to get a pass so she could access the Key West installation. During the routine security screening required for base access, the woman's name was flagged as a problem. Base personnel contacted the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which looked into the matter, said the official. NCIS and Coast Guard security personnel got permission from the base commander to enter the installation and then went to the Coast Guardsman's home on Thursday, the official said. They were joined by personnel from Homeland Security Investigations, a unit within Immigration and Customs Enforcement. HSI eventually took the spouse into custody, and the official said they believe she is still being detained. Officials did not provide the name of the country she is from. The Coast Guard referred questions about the woman's identity, immigration status and charges to ICE, which did not respond to a request for comment on Saturday. The Department of Homeland Security also did not respond to a request for comment. The husband of the arrested woman is a Coast Guardsman assigned to the USCGC Mohawk, a 270-foot-long cutter based at Key West. The couple was moving into U.S. government housing at the nearby Naval Air Station. An online database that tracks ship movements shows the Mohawk has been docked in its home port since mid-March. A March 16 media release says the ship had recently returned following a 70-day deployment to the Eastern Pacific Ocean on a mission to intercept shipments of illegal drugs. In a statement, the Navy said that it "fully cooperated with federal law enforcement authorities on this matter. We take security and access at naval installations seriously."
Los Angeles Times
27-04-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Wife of U.S. Coast Guard member arrested on base over expired visa
WASHINGTON — The wife of an active-duty Coast Guardsman was arrested this week by federal immigration authorities in the family residential section of the U.S. Naval Air Station at Key West, Fla., after she was flagged in a routine security check, officials said Saturday. 'The spouse is not a member of the Coast Guard and was detained by Homeland Security Investigations pursuant to a lawful removal order,' Coast Guard spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Steve Roth said in a statement confirming Thursday's on-base arrest. 'The Coast Guard works closely with HSI and others to enforce federal laws, including on immigration.' According to a U.S. official, the woman's work visa expired around 2017, and she was marked for removal from the United States a few years later. She and the Coast Guardsman were married early this year, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an enforcement incident. Though the Trump administration has made immigration arrests a top priority for federal law enforcement, it did not immediately appear that the on-base arrest of the military spouse was part of a broader sweep. The official said that when the woman and her Coast Guard husband were preparing to move into their on-base housing on Wednesday, they went to the visitor control center to get a pass so she could access the Key West installation. During the routine security screening required for base access, the woman's name was flagged as a problem. Base personnel contacted the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which looked into the matter, said the official. NCIS and Coast Guard security personnel got permission from the base commander to enter the installation and then went to the Coast Guardsman's home Thursday, the official said. They were joined by personnel from Homeland Security Investigations, a unit within Immigration and Customs Enforcement. HSI eventually took the spouse into custody, and the official said they believe she is still being detained. Officials did not give the name of her native country. The Coast Guard referred questions about the woman's identity, immigration status and charges to ICE, which did not respond to a request for comment Saturday. The Department of Homeland Security also did not respond to a request for comment. The husband of the arrested woman is a Coast Guardsman assigned to the USCGC Mohawk, a cutter based at Key West. The couple were moving into U.S. government housing at the nearby Naval Air Station. An online database that tracks ship movements shows the Mohawk has been docked in its home port since mid-March. A March 16 media release says the ship had recently returned following a 70-day deployment to the Eastern Pacific on a mission to intercept shipments of illegal drugs. In a statement, the Navy said that it 'fully cooperated with federal law enforcement authorities on this matter. We take security and access at naval installations seriously.' Biesecker and Baldor write for the Associated Press. AP writer Rebecca Santana contributed to this report.
