The Independent
·Aug 2026
Army soldier’s wife returns home after being removed from deportation flight
Maisa Lopes Eliaser, the wife of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Alexis Jaramillo, returned to Louisiana after being removed from a deportation flight to Brazil while in federal immigration custody. ICE had detained her over a final removal order tied to an expired tourist visa, but officials reportedly received a call during the flight and allowed her to return to the United States. Her case drew national attention, prompted a congressional investigation into the treatment of military families, and received assistance from Repatriate Our Patriots. Eliaser is seeking to reopen her case and advance her green card application, though she remains traumatized and fearful of renewed detention.