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WASHINGTON (AP) — A Coast Guardsman’s spouse was taken into custody by federal immigration authorities earlier this week inside the family housing area of the U.S. Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida. This occurred after her name was flagged during a routine security screening, according to officials on Saturday.
Lt. Cmdr. Steve Roth, a spokesperson for the Coast Guard, confirmed the arrest and stated, “The spouse is not a member of the Coast Guard and was detained by Homeland Security Investigations due to a lawful removal order.” He added that the Coast Guard maintains a collaborative relationship with HSI to enforce federal immigration laws effectively.
Reports indicate that the woman’s work visa expired around 2017, and she was designated for removal from the United States in the subsequent years. The couple had recently married earlier this year, as noted by a U.S. official who requested anonymity to discuss the specifics of the enforcement operation.
The arrest did not appear to be part of a larger immigration enforcement sweep typical during the Trump administration’s heightened focus on immigration arrests, the source indicated.
Before the incident, the woman and her Coast Guard husband had been preparing to relocate to on-base housing. They visited the visitor control center to obtain authorization for her entry to the Key West installation. It was during this process that her name was flagged during the mandatory security check.
Following this, base personnel reached out to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) for further investigation. NCIS, along with Coast Guard security teams, received authorization from the base commander to proceed and subsequently visited the couple’s residence to enact the arrest.
HSI officials eventually took the woman into custody, and reports suggest she remains detained at this time. However, authorities have not disclosed her country of origin.
The Coast Guard referred inquiries regarding her identity, immigration status, and any charges to ICE, which had not provided a response as of Saturday. The Department of Homeland Security has also remained silent on the matter.
The arrested woman is married to a Coast Guardsman who serves aboard the USCGC Mohawk, a 270-foot cutter stationed at Key West. The couple was transitioning into government housing at the naval base.
Data from an online vessel tracking service indicates that the Mohawk has been docked in its home port since mid-March, following a 70-day mission in the Eastern Pacific to intercept illegal drug shipments, as detailed in a March 16 media release.
In conclusion, the Navy has stated it “fully cooperated with federal law enforcement authorities in this matter,” emphasizing its commitment to security and access protocols at naval installations.
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