Veteran’s Wife Freed from ICE Custody After GOP Senator Steps In

A Marine Corps veteran's wife has returned home to her children following her release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. 

Legal efforts and a direct appeal to Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy facilitated this development. 

On May 27, Paola Clouatre, a Mexican national and mother of two, was taken into custody during her green card appointment in New Orleans. After arriving in the U.S. as a minor more than ten years ago to seek asylum, a previous deportation order, which was issued during a time of separation from her family, resulted in her being placed in a distant ICE facility in northern Louisiana. 

Adrian Clouatre, a Marine veteran, and her husband sought assistance from Kennedy’s office. Following a judge's decision to pause her deportation order on July 23, Kennedy's team submitted an official request to the Department of Homeland Security. 

On Monday, Paola was freed and joyfully reunited with her family in Baton Rouge. Christy Tate, a representative for Kennedy, described the release as "a blessing" and praised the veteran for his service. “God is truly great,” she expressed to Adrian following the announcement. 

Sen. Kennedy's reputation for strict immigration policies is contrasted by his office's involvement in this case, along with a recent ICE detention situation concerning a woman from New Orleans. 

This highlights an increasing friction between overarching immigration policies and specific cases that evoke empathy. 

Paola Clouatre continues to be monitored and is involved in an extended legal journey, yet her lawyer expresses optimism about what lies ahead. "The lawyer indicated that she is likely to secure her green card in due time." At this moment, Paola is primarily concentrating on reestablishing her bond with her children. “I felt as though I had let my children down,” she reflected on her experience in custody. 

With an ankle monitor in place and a renewed opportunity ahead, she is dedicated to restoring her family life—kicking things off with a delayed trip for beignets in New Orleans. 

Adrian is optimistic that her situation will lead to increased caution from immigration officials. “It shouldn’t simply be a one-size-fits-all approach of ‘They’re illegal, put them in detention,’” he stated. “It’s important to consider the human aspect.”