A Lithuanian woman married to an American Army veteran has spent two months in federal detention after being arrested during a routine green card interview, facing imminent deportation despite pending appeals that could keep her family together.
Detention Following Immigration Appointment
Airida Gould was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in May during what she believed would be a standard green card interview. The mother of two had a removal order from 17 years ago that immigration officials decided to enforce under current administration policies. She was separated from her husband Mark, an Army veteran, and their two young sons without an opportunity to say goodbye. Federal agents told her the enforcement action represented a significant shift in immigration procedures.
Gould has been transferred between multiple detention facilities, spending time in locations across Indiana and Kentucky. She described conditions at one Indiana facility as inhumane, comparing the treatment unfavorably to how Americans care for their pets. Currently held in a Kentucky women’s facility with 13 other detainees, she reports cleaner conditions but no access to fresh food for over two months. Her contact with fresh air is limited to three one-hour gym sessions weekly.
Family Separation and Legal Battle
Mark Gould and his two sons live more than 300 miles from the detention center where his wife is held. Communication is limited to occasional text messages and rare video calls through the detention facility system. The veteran describes waking each morning with anxiety, waiting for his wife’s first text message to confirm she has not yet been deported. The couple becomes emotional discussing the possibility of reunion, though they acknowledge deportation could happen at any moment despite ongoing legal proceedings.
Former Chicago immigration court Judge Carla Espinoza now represents Gould and is working to prevent her deportation. The case currently sits before the Board of Immigration Appeals, but ICE maintains the authority to execute the removal order before any appeal is heard. Espinoza characterizes the situation as a race against time, explaining that immigration authorities can effectively eliminate legal remedies by deporting someone before their case receives proper consideration.
Broader Immigration Enforcement Context
Immigration attorneys report that current administration policies have created unprecedented enforcement scenarios, with detention centers experiencing population surges. Legal representatives note significant variations in detention facility conditions, with many locations struggling to provide adequate care due to rapid influx of detainees. The case highlights tensions between family unity, military service recognition, and immigration law enforcement. Gould’s situation demonstrates how longstanding removal orders can be activated years later, separating American citizens from foreign-born spouses regardless of family circumstances or length of United States residence.