A military spouse was arrested earlier this week by federal immigration authorities at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida, after being flagged during a routine security check, officials confirmed Saturday.
The woman, married to an active-duty member of the U.S. Coast Guard, was apprehended inside the residential section of the base on Thursday. Coast Guard spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Steve Roth stated, “The spouse is not a member of the Coast Guard and was detained by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) pursuant to a lawful removal order.” He added, “The Coast Guard works closely with HSI and other agencies to enforce all federal laws, including immigration regulations.”
Arrest During Move-In Day
According to a U.S. official familiar with the case, the woman’s work visa had expired around 2017. After overstaying her visa, she was ordered to be removed from the U.S. several years later. Earlier this year, she married the Coast Guardsman, hoping to start a new life together at the naval base.
Their arrest unfolded during what was meant to be a celebratory move-in day. When the couple went to the visitor control center to obtain an access pass to finalize their relocation into military housing, a standard background check triggered an alert on the woman’s immigration status.
Upon the discovery, base personnel contacted the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). After reviewing the situation, NCIS agents, together with Coast Guard security officers, obtained authorization from the base commander to proceed. They were joined by Homeland Security Investigations agents who went to the couple’s assigned residence and took the woman into custody.
She remains detained as of Saturday, the official said. Authorities did not release details regarding her country of origin.
Coast Guard and Navy Respond
The Coast Guard declined to comment on specifics of the woman’s immigration case, directing all further questions to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has yet to respond to media inquiries. The Department of Homeland Security also did not immediately comment.
The woman’s husband is assigned to the USCGC Mohawk, a 270-foot-long Coast Guard cutter based in Key West. The ship has been docked at its home port since mid-March following a 70-day deployment to the Eastern Pacific, where it participated in missions targeting drug trafficking operations.
The Navy, in a separate statement, emphasized its cooperation with federal authorities, saying, “We take the security and access protocols of naval installations very seriously and fully assisted federal law enforcement agencies in this matter.”
Context and Broader Implications
While the Trump administration has prioritized stricter immigration enforcement across the country, officials indicated that this specific arrest was not part of any broader immigration crackdown targeting military families.
Still, the arrest highlights the complexities faced by service members and their families when immigration issues intersect with military life — even on secure bases meant to serve as sanctuaries for those in uniform.