A federal judge has mandated the release of Stephanie Kenny Velásquez, a 25-year-old Venezuelan national and the spouse of a U.S. Army reservist, citing a breach of her due process rights by the government.
Stephanie was detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on December 5, 2025, merely two days after her wedding, during a routine check-in at an immigration office in Houston, Texas, according to a report from Telemundo News.
Her husband, Christopher Busby, 28, serves as a reservist in the Army and is a pilot for Black Hawk helicopters, which are among the most widely utilized aircraft in the U.S. military.
The couple met in March 2025 and married on December 3 of the same year, just 48 hours before Stephanie was apprehended after voluntarily reporting to immigration authorities.
At the time of her arrest, Stephanie had an active asylum case, no criminal history, and consistently attended her annual immigration check-ins as the spouse of a servicemember.
She was even preparing for a real estate exam scheduled for the week following her arrest, highlighting the normalcy of her life before being detained.
Following her arrest, Stephanie was initially held at a detention center in Conroe, Texas, and later transferred to the Houston Contract Detention Facility, where she stayed for approximately four months while her husband publicly campaigned for her release.
Her attorney, Javier Rivera, filed a habeas corpus petition with a hearing set for March 30, 2026, and also arranged an interview with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) based on a family petition filed by Christopher Busby.
The judicial order issued this Monday requires Stephanie's release within 48 hours, allowing her to continue her immigration process without being detained.
Rivera hailed the ruling as a federal court validation and announced that the legal team would pursue further actions to regularize her immigration status.
Christopher Busby, who had spent months publicly condemning the situation without understanding how a routine administrative appointment led to extended detention, described her release as "overwhelming."
This case is part of a broader trend involving the detention of military family members and individuals with pending immigration processes under the Trump Administration's policies, which have intensified ICE operations even against those voluntarily attending administrative appointments.
Veteran organizations, including the American Legion, have demanded special protections for families of military personnel affected by these detentions, amid a series of similar cases that have sparked public controversy nationwide.
Key Questions About Military Family Detentions
What led to Stephanie Kenny Velásquez's detention by ICE?
Stephanie Kenny Velásquez was detained by ICE during a routine immigration check-in, just two days after her marriage to a U.S. Army reservist.
How long was Stephanie detained, and where was she held?
Stephanie was detained for about four months, initially at a center in Conroe, Texas, and later at the Houston Contract Detention Facility.
What actions did her attorney take to secure her release?
Her attorney, Javier Rivera, filed a habeas corpus petition and secured an interview with USCIS based on a family petition filed by her husband.
How has the case affected public perception of ICE policies?
The case has highlighted a pattern of detaining military family members, sparking public controversy and calls for special protections for these families.