Marine Veteran's Wife Detained and Deported During Green Card Interview
A Las Vegas Marine veteran has spoken out after his wife was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a routine green card interview and subsequently deported to Moldova. Diana Butnarciuc was taken into custody on February 11 and sent back to her home country less than two months later, leaving behind two confused and distraught children.
Shocking Detention During Long-Awaited Interview
Patrick Baja, 44, described the traumatic moment when ICE agents entered the interview room. "We went in at 8.20am, spoke to the officer for about five minutes, and that's when ICE entered the office," Baja told local news station KTNV. The couple had waited five years for this interview after filing their I-130 form in 2020, which initiates the green card process based on marriage.
Baja, who served in the Marine Corps, expressed his disappointment with how the situation was handled. "I'm a Marine Corps veteran. She's my everything, my rock, and you'd think they would help us out a little in that situation," he said. The veteran emphasized that he expected more assistance due to his military service.
Legal Entry and Clean Record
Butnarciuc originally entered the United States legally in 2008, claiming political asylum. Although that claim was denied in 2017 and a removal order was issued, she maintained a clean record throughout her time in the country. "She came in legally to the United States with political asylum, and she's been working since the beginning - everything has been to a T, legal," Baja explained.
The couple's immigration lawyer, Darren Heyman, highlighted the injustice of the situation. "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's been given to lots of people before," Heyman stated.
Detention and Deportation Process
After her detention, Butnarciuc was held at the Henderson Detention Center until her deportation less than two months later. Baja criticized the lack of transparency during the process. "They didn't explain the process at all. They just took her and said, 'We'll get to the bottom of this,' and that's really it. It was just very mind-blowing," he recalled.
Baja also addressed common misconceptions about his wife's case. "Everything we did was legal. She was here legally, never had a criminal record, worked for years. That's the misconception, people think she must have done something wrong," he emphasized.
Political Response and Broader Implications
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford condemned the incident, linking it to broader immigration enforcement patterns. "The fact is, what we're seeing happening is atrocious across the nation. ICE is out of hand," Ford told KLAS. He positioned Butnarciuc's case as an example of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
Ford reaffirmed his commitment to protecting all Nevada residents regardless of their immigration status. "I have been clear that as the Nevada Attorney General, I represent the entirety of the Nevada family, and I mean that. I don't care if you've been here three generations or for three days. If you live in the state of Nevada, I'm your attorney general, and I will stand up for your rights," he declared.
The case has drawn attention to the complexities and potential harshness of U.S. immigration enforcement, particularly affecting military families. Butnarciuc's sudden deportation has left her husband and children struggling to cope with the separation while navigating the legal system to potentially reunite their family.
