Individuals were taken into custody during the pendency of their legal status adjustment proceedings

Washington: Families of US Military Personnel Also Caught in Trump's Anti-Immigration Crackdown. Under US President Donald Trump's anti-immigration campaign, families of US military personnel are also being hit hard. According to an Associated Press investigation, the Trump administration has detained more than 50 parents and spouses of active-duty US military service members, while at least six people have already been deported.

For decades, families of military personnel had enjoyed exemption from deportation, but now they are being detained even while changing their legal status. Army Sergeant Heidar Lionel Trisios Juarez, stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, described his anguish, saying: "How can I focus on my military career when I'm worried about the condition my wife is in?"

His wife was arrested in July in front of their 6-year-old daughter. This action has forced many soldiers to take leave to look after their children or to postpone their deployments. Army Staff Sergeant Alexis Jaramillo, who has served for 10 years, said: "It's very distressing because I have to take care of my child alone. There's no one here to help me."

In its statement, the Department of Homeland Security said: "DHS and ICE value the contributions of those who serve in the US military, but military service alone does not confer legal status or exempt one from the consequences of violating the law." Experts believe this policy could adversely affect military readiness, while on the other hand, military recruitment agencies are still trying to enlist new young recruits by promoting the immigration benefits available to military families.