US Marine Veteran's Wife Detained by ICE During Green Card Interview
A United States Marine war veteran is urgently seeking assistance after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested his wife during an interview for a permanent resident card, sparking outrage and confusion over immigration procedures.
Diana Butnarciuc, who left the Eastern European nation of Moldova in 2008 for a better life in America, currently resides in the Henderson Detention Center due to a deportation order filed in 2018. According to her husband, Patrick Baja, she has two children, maintains employment, and fulfills her tax obligations, with no prior criminal history.
Veteran's Plea for Justice and Support
"I served the country, and you know, I would think that the country would serve us in this instance," Baja expressed, highlighting his frustration. "She's never been in jail or anything like that, so again this is a brand new thing for her."
Baja and Butnarciuc's friends are desperately working to secure her release from ICE detention. In 2020, Baja filed an "I-130 petition for an alien relative," a critical step toward obtaining a green card, emphasizing their adherence to legal processes.
"I totally understand policies and rules and all that, and again that's why we followed everything to a 'T' when it came to the process," Baja stated. "As a Marine veteran, I would just like the help."
Arrest During Long-Awaited Interview
The couple, along with their attorney, attended a US Citizenship and Immigration Services interview in Las Vegas on Wednesday, a meeting they had anticipated for five years. However, the situation took a drastic turn within minutes.
"5 minutes into the interview, ICE came into the room and arrested her," Baja recounted. "Confusion, very emotional. We knew it was a possibility."
Despite Butnarciuc arriving in the United States in 2008 and claiming political asylum, an immigration judge rejected her asylum claim in 2018, leading to the removal order. Her marriage to Baja subsequently altered her immigration status, but the deportation order remains active.
Legal Perspective and Immigration Challenges
Immigration attorney Darren Heyman, representing Butnarciuc, noted that his client has no criminal record and is perplexed by the arrest. "She would otherwise be entitled to a green card in this country. She entered legally. She has zero criminal record. We just want her to be given the same process that was given to lots of people before," Heyman asserted.
Heyman pointed out that the Trump Administration disrupted established immigration norms, particularly in Clark County, stating, "Unfortunately, what was typical is no longer typical."
Currently, Heyman aims to bond Butnarciuc out of the Henderson Detention Center to complete the green card application process. Once she obtains a green card, he plans to petition a judge to void the deportation order.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has not yet responded to inquiries from 8 News Now regarding Diana Butnarciuc's case, leaving the family in limbo as they await resolution.
