Federal judge orders release of Army reservist's wife from ICE detention
Apr 8, 2026·Location: Houston, TX
Country of origin: Venezuela

Stephanie Kenny-Velasquez, a 25-year-old Venezuelan national and wife of a U.S. Army Reserve Black Hawk pilot, was detained by ICE in Houston on December 5, 2025, during a routine check-in despite having been released in 2021 pending her asylum claim and consistently complying with all required appointments and hearings. She was held at the Houston Contract Detention Facility for approximately four months. A federal judge found due-process violations and ordered her release within 48 hours, permitting her to continue her immigration case outside of detention. Kenny-Velasquez reported poor conditions including overcrowding (60 women), lack of privacy, inadequate food, anxiety attacks, and limited access to medical care.
Timeline
Sources
- Release from ICE detention brings relief and lingering trauma for wife of Army reservist
NBC News·Apr 5, 2026·archived copy
- Houston judge orders release of Army pilot’s wife from ICE detention
Houston Chronicle·Mar 31, 2026·archived copy
- Judge orders release of Army reservist’s wife after hearing in immigration detention case
- Venezolana liberada por el ICE revela maltratos contra inmigrantes en centros de detención: “todo está diseñado para que uno se sienta incómodo”
- Venezuelan woman seeking asylum released from ICE detention center after court rules due process violation
Yahoo News·Apr 7, 2026·archived copy
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