Trump Voter Faces Immigration Nightmare as Wife is Detained by ICE

Bradley Bartell never imagined that his vote for Donald Trump would lead to his wife’s detention. Yet, weeks after their honeymoon in Puerto Rico, his wife, Camila Muñoz, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) upon re-entering the United States. Despite the ordeal, Bartell remains steadfast in his support for Trump.

A Devastating Detainment

Muñoz, a Peruvian citizen, first came to the U.S. in 2019 on a work-study visa. She met Bartell while living in Wisconsin, and the two quickly fell in love. They married during the pandemic, but by then, her visa had expired. Since then, she had been working to obtain permanent residency.

When the couple returned from their honeymoon in February, ICE officers stopped them at the airport. Muñoz admitted she was not a U.S. citizen but explained that she was in the process of getting a green card. Despite being married to an American citizen, she was taken into custody and transported to a detention center in Louisiana.

“It was like something out of a nightmare,” Bartell told Newsweek. “She has no criminal record. She works. She pays taxes. And yet, she was treated like she was dangerous.”

ICE has not responded to multiple media requests for comment.

Support for Trump Remains Unshaken

Even with his wife’s detainment, Bartell maintains that he does not regret voting for Trump.

“I don’t regret the vote,” he said. “He didn’t create this system, but he has an opportunity to fix it. Hopefully, this situation shines a light on how broken it really is.”

Bartell’s frustration, however, is aimed at ICE and what he calls a lack of transparency.

“It took me a week just to figure out where they took her. Nobody could tell me anything. The communication between departments is awful,” he said. “The process needs a serious overhaul.”

A Broken System?

Since regaining office, Trump has vowed to crack down on immigration. His administration has reinforced strict policies, including the mass deportation of individuals who have overstayed their visas. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated this stance in January, stating, “If an individual is overstaying their visa, they are, therefore, an illegal immigrant residing in this country, and they are subject to deportation.”

Critics argue that these policies disproportionately target non-criminal immigrants and break apart families. Immigration advocacy groups point out that ICE’s enforcement methods often lack transparency and compassion, leaving families in distress with little recourse.

A Family Torn Apart

Bartell and Muñoz were building a life together in Wisconsin Dells, a small town of about 3,000 people. Muñoz had taken on a motherly role to Bartell’s 12-year-old son. The couple had been saving for a home, envisioning a future together.

“She was more than just my wife,” Bartell said. “She was helping raise my son. She was part of our family.”

Now, Muñoz sits in detention, uncertain of her fate. Bartell has started a GoFundMe campaign to cover legal fees and the potential $10,000 bond for her release. So far, the fundraiser has gathered nearly $900 of its $3,000 goal.

“I just want my wife back,” Bartell said. “I never thought something like this would happen to us.”