NewsWSVN 7 MiamiAugust 5, 2026Miami-Dade
Trump administration detains military families under new immigration enforcement policy
The federal government is now routinely detaining parents and spouses of active-duty U.S. service members, reversing a long-standing practice of shielding these families from deportation. A new policy implemented in April 2025 explicitly states that military service by a relative does not exempt family members from immigration enforcement actions.
Read the full story at WSVN 7 MiamiWhy It Matters
This policy shift impacts the stability and readiness of active-duty military personnel by removing primary caregivers and support systems, forcing some service members to take leave or delay deployments to care for children.
Key Facts
- More than 50 parents and spouses of active-duty service members have been detained since the start of the second Trump term.
- At least six family members of service members have been deported.
- At least eight immediate family members of service members remain in federal immigration custody.
- A new policy effective April 2025 declares that military service does not exempt aliens from immigration law consequences.
- Between Jan. 20, 2025, and Jan. 26, 2026, authorities detained 125 military veterans and arrested more than 150 immediate family members of veterans.
- The government does not officially track the number of detained military family members.
- Some service members have been forced to take administrative leave or halt deployments to care for children following the detention of a spouse.
- DHS stated that at least seven of the detained individuals had prior removals, eight had removal orders, and two had convictions for drunk driving or drug-related offenses.
Who's Mentioned
personHedar Leonel Turcios Juarez“Army Sergeant whose wife was detained”personAlexis Jaramillo“Army Staff Sgt. whose wife was detained”organizationDepartment of Homeland Security“Federal agency overseeing immigration enforcement”personMaria Elvira Salazar“Florida Republican Representative”personWendy Gbeve“Air Force Tech. Sgt. whose father was deported”organizationImmigration and Customs Enforcement“Agency responsible for detention and deportation”personMarkwayne Mullin“Homeland Security Secretary”personDonald Trump“President of the United States”