San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones sent letters to the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security seeking protections for military family members applying for citizenship through the military parole in place program. The action follows the detention of a military spouse at a naval base in Corpus Christi in September.
Where
San Antonio, Bexar County; Corpus Christi, Nueces County
Markwayne MullinU.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary
Bobby PulidoSouth Texas Democratic Congressional candidate
Giovanna PerezMilitary spouse detained by ICE
Pedro GutierrezU.S. Army service member
Joaquin CastroU.S. Representative (D-San Antonio)
Maria Rocio RochaGreen card holder detained and deported by ICE
David GarciaU.S. Navy midshipman
The facts
Giovanna Perez was detained by ICE in September at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi while picking up military identification cards.1
Perez had applied for military parole in place through her husband, who recently enlisted in the U.S. Army.1
Processing time for military parole applications increased from 4.5 months in fiscal year 2025 to 12.5 months in fiscal year 2026.1
The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard no longer advertise military parole in place as an enlistment benefit; the Army and National Guard still do.1
A San Antonio family experienced a similar situation in August when Maria Rocio Rocha was detained at her green card appointment and later deported.1
The military parole in place policy originated during the George W. Bush administration after public outcry prevented the deportation of a military spouse whose husband was missing in action in Iraq.1
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Gina Ortiz Jones Targeted immigration enforcement against military families may dampen military service interest and introduce unneeded stress during heightened military operations.1
Bobby Pulido Giovanna Perez was tricked into going to the base to pick up military identification cards when ICE was waiting.1
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
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