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Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Paola Clouatre, a 25-year-old mother of two and wife of Marine Corps veteran Adrian Clouatre, was released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on Monday after two months of detention. Her arrest followed what she believed to be a routine immigration appointment related to her green card application.
Detention and Family Hardship
Clouatre, who had recently given birth and was breastfeeding her infant daughter, was detained on May 27 at an ICE field office in New Orleans. She was transferred to a detention facility in northern Louisiana, four hours from her home in Baton Rouge. Her husband, Adrian, a former intelligence analyst in the Marine Corps, made weekly eight-hour round trips to visit her with their two young children.
“It was very difficult,” Paola said. “They gave me a pump so I could continue producing milk for when the baby came to visit.”
Legal Background and Deportation Order
Paola entered the U.S. as a child with her mother, who later abandoned her. She was unaware that a deportation order had been issued in 2018 after her mother failed to appear at an immigration hearing. The couple began the green card process after marrying in 2024, believing they were following proper legal channels.
Her arrest came amid a surge in ICE enforcement under the Trump administration, which has prioritized the detention of individuals with outstanding deportation orders. As of late June, ICE arrests had reached 109,000 in 2025—an increase of 120% compared to the same period in 2024.
Release and Next Steps
Following advocacy efforts—including outreach to elected officials and support from Louisiana Senator John Kennedy’s office—Paola was released on a recognizance bond. She now wears an ankle monitor and must check in biweekly with an ICE parole officer.
The family is pursuing legal avenues to dismiss the deportation order and apply for “parole in place,” a status that facilitates green card eligibility for immediate relatives of U.S. military personnel.
Public Reaction and Federal Commentary
The case drew attention after U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services posted on social media, stating that Clouatre had “defied” a removal order and applied for a green card seven years later. Immigration experts note that current enforcement priorities have shifted away from previous leniency toward military families.
“I’m ecstatic and extremely grateful to my lawyer, Senator Kennedy’s office, and the community,” Adrian said. Paola added, “I feel happy and thankful for the support we received.”
