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An active-duty Coast Guardsman’s wife was apprehended by federal immigration officials earlier this week while located in the family residential area of the U.S. Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida. This incident followed a routine security check, as confirmed by officials on Saturday.
“The spouse is not a member of the Coast Guard and was detained by Homeland Security Investigations under a lawful removal order,” stated Coast Guard spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Steve Roth, affirming the arrest that occurred on Thursday. “The Coast Guard collaborates closely with HSI and other agencies to uphold federal regulations, including those related to immigration.”
The Timing of the Arrest
As reported by a U.S. official, the woman’s work visa expired in 2017, leading to her identification for removal a few years later. She and her Coast Guardsman spouse were married earlier this year, noted the official, who wished to remain anonymous while discussing the details of the situation.
Despite the Trump administration’s prioritization of immigration arrests nationwide, this particular incident did not appear to be part of a larger enforcement action.
The woman and her husband were in the process of moving into on-base housing on Wednesday when they approached the visitor control center for a pass allowing her access to the Key West installation. During the standard screening procedure, her name raised a flag, prompting further investigation.
Personnel from the base reached out to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), which conducted an inquiry into the situation. Following this, NCIS and Coast Guard security officials received clearance from the base commander to investigate further at the couple’s residence on Thursday, accompanied by members from Homeland Security Investigations, a division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
HSI ultimately took the woman into custody, and it is believed she remains detained. Officials have not disclosed her country of origin.
Questions regarding the woman’s identity, immigration status, and any potential charges were directed to ICE, which had yet to respond to inquiries made on Saturday. The Department of Homeland Security also has not commented.
The arrested woman’s husband serves aboard the USCGC Mohawk, a 270-foot cutter based in Key West. The couple was in the process of relocating to U.S. military housing at the adjacent Naval Air Station.
An online tracking system for maritime movements indicates that the Mohawk has been docked in its home port since mid-March. A media release from March 16 indicated that the vessel returned following a 70-day deployment to the Eastern Pacific Ocean, focusing on intercepting drug shipments.
In a statement, the Navy emphasized, “We are fully cooperating with federal law enforcement authorities regarding this incident. Security and access at naval installations are taken very seriously.”
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