Deisy Rivera Ortega was detained by ICE on April 14, 2023, during an immigration appointment in El Paso, Texas. This detention has raised significant concerns regarding her legal status.
Rivera Ortega has lived in the U.S. since 2016 and married Jose Serrano in 2022. She was granted legal protection in 2019 that prohibits her deportation to El Salvador. However, the Department of Homeland Security stated that she entered the U.S. illegally.
Despite her legal protections, Rivera Ortega was ordered deported on December 12, 2019, after receiving what officials described as ‘full due process.’ At the time of her detention, she held an active work permit and was employed at two hotels inside Fort Bliss.
Her husband, Jose Serrano—who has served for 27 years in the military—submitted a Parole in Place application on her behalf. This application is currently pending. Serrano expressed deep concern about the potential consequences of Rivera Ortega’s detention.
“If she is sent to Mexico, I would likely not be able to see her without jeopardizing my military career,” he said. They have no ties to Mexico and fear what deportation could mean for their family.
ICE’s online detainee tracking system indicates that Rivera Ortega is being held at the El Paso processing center. Matthew Kozik, an attorney representing her, filed a habeas petition arguing that her detention is unlawful.
Serrano’s mental health has deteriorated since his wife’s detention; he reports sleeping only two hours a night. “I don’t really understand why, because she followed the rules of immigration by the T since day one,” he stated.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact reasons for Rivera Ortega’s detention despite her legal protections. The outcome of the pending Parole in Place application remains uncertain as well.
