By Trendsetter Tribune 
A U.S. military veteran says she is leaving the country after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested her husband during a green card interview in San Diego, California.
Hannah Silveira, a former U.S. Army combat medic, said her husband, Matheus Silveira, was taken into custody on November 22, 2025, while attending an interview at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office. According to her account, ICE agents entered the room while Matheus was answering questions and arrested him for overstaying a previous visa.
Matheus, 30, moved to the United States in 2019 to study English. He later met Hannah in 2022, and the couple married in August 2024. Hannah said they were planning to buy a home, start a business, and move to Minnesota to be closer to her family before the arrest disrupted their plans.
Since his detention, Matheus has been held at an ICE facility in California. Hannah says conditions inside the center are difficult, describing overcrowded rooms, limited food, and pressure on detainees to leave the country voluntarily. She said her husband was denied bond due to a prior driving-related offense and was classified as a risk under ICE guidelines.
Rather than face deportation, Matheus was granted voluntary departure. The couple has decided to leave the United States and relocate to Brazil, where Matheus is from.
Hannah said the decision was heartbreaking, especially after serving in the U.S. military. She said she no longer feels safe or at home in the country she once served and is uncertain if they will ever return.
Their experience reflects the emotional toll immigration enforcement can have on families, including those with deep ties to the United States.