Key facts
- Maisa Lopes Eliaser, wife of a U.S. soldier, was removed from a deportation flight to Brazil.
- Eliaser was returned to federal immigration custody in the U.S. after a mid-flight intervention.
- She had been detained since July 8 after overstaying a tourist visa.
- Eliaser's case gained attention following Associated Press reporting on military families facing deportation.
- A group of Congressional Democrats launched an investigation into deportations of military service members and their families.
Maisa Lopes Eliaser, the wife of a U.S. Army Staff Sgt., was removed from a deportation flight bound for Brazil and returned to federal immigration custody in the United States. Eliaser had been detained since July 8 after overstaying a tourist visa she used to enter the U.S. in 2019. She received a final order of removal on April 15.
Eliaser's case gained national attention after the Associated Press highlighted her situation as one of many spouses or parents of U.S. troops detained amid a broader immigration enforcement push. Following this reporting, a group of Congressional Democrats initiated an investigation into the deportations of military families.
While on the flight to Brazil, ICE officers reportedly received a call regarding Eliaser's case, leading to her being asked if she wished to continue to her destination or return to the U.S. She chose to return and was brought back to Louisiana. ICE officers informed her that she had become well-known due to media coverage of her situation.
Her husband, Army Staff Sgt. Alexis Jaramillo, expressed relief but also ongoing concern, stating that while they were told there would be no further issues, they remain anxious. Eliaser described her detention experience as traumatic, feeling treated like an "animal" and experiencing nightmares.
Eliaser has an upcoming appointment to attempt to reopen her case and pursue her green card application. She and Jaramillo have been married since 2024, and Jaramillo is a U.S. citizen.