Wife of an active duty Florida Coast Guard member arrested by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) earlier this week, picked up CBS News.
The incident occurred inside the family residential section of the U.S. Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida, after his name was flagged during a routine security check.
According to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the woman's visa expired in 2017, and she was marked for removal from the country a few years later. She and the Coast Guard member were married in early 2025.
In a statement to X, Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Steve Roth confirmed the arrest inside the base on Thursday.
"The wife is not a member of the Coast Guard and was detained by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) pursuant to a lawful removal order. The Coast Guard works closely with HSI and others to enforce federal laws, including immigration laws," he said.
The official also revealed that the woman, whose name has not been released, and that of her partner, a Coast Guard member, were preparing to move into their on-base home on Wednesday.
The source said the two went to the visitor control center to obtain a pass that would allow them access to the Key West facility. During the routine security check required for entry to the base, the woman's name was flagged as a problem.
Base personnel contacted the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), which investigated the matter. NCIS personnel and Coast Guard security obtained permission from the base commander to enter the facility and then went to the Coast Guard member's home on Thursday, he added.
HSI then detained the wife, and she is believed to still be in custody. The woman's nationality has not been revealed. The Coast Guard referred questions about the migrant's identity, status, and the ICE charges against her. The agency has not responded to the request, nor has the Department of Homeland Security.
