U.S. Citizen’s Wife, Ukrainian Asylum Seeker, Detained by ICE

URGENT UPDATE: A U.S. citizen’s wife, Maryna Ishchenko, a Ukrainian asylum seeker, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during what was presumed to be a routine immigration appointment. Her husband, Asael Ramirez, reported that Maryna was taken into custody at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center earlier this month, turning their lives upside down.

Ramirez expressed his shock, stating, “It started off as a beautiful day, and that beautiful day turned into a nightmare.” He met Maryna in Poland, and they quickly fell in love. With ongoing conflicts in her hometown in eastern Ukraine due to the Russian invasion, Ramirez sought legal advice in 2024 and was instructed to pursue asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.

When the couple approached immigration agents to formally present Maryna’s case, she was unexpectedly handcuffed and detained. “In that moment, I became in shock,” Ramirez recalled. An attorney managed to secure her release temporarily by proving Ramirez would sponsor her while her asylum case was pending. They have since been living in Sylmar and got married last year.

However, during their latest appointment with ICE, Maryna was detained again. Ramirez reported that despite informing immigration officials of his U.S. citizenship and marriage, they “brushed it off. It doesn’t matter to them.”

In a distressing phone call from the detention center, Maryna revealed she is suffering from abdominal medical issues exacerbated by anxiety and fear. Advocacy groups recently filed a federal lawsuit against the private operator of the Adelanto facility, citing inhumane conditions and medical neglect. Furthermore, Congressman Raul Ruiz was denied entry into the facility, despite legal assurances granting Congress members access.

Immigration attorney Jacob Sapochnick commented on the shifting policies surrounding detention, asserting, “Maryna shouldn’t have been detained, and she should at least get a bond.” He suggested that filing a habeas corpus petition in federal court might be the best option for her release, although Ramirez expressed concern about the high costs, stating he has already spent $15,000 on her case.

Despite these obstacles, Ramirez remains hopeful. “We’re keeping strong. We’re not giving up,” he asserted. He has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for legal support in the fight for Maryna’s release.

Eyewitness News has repeatedly reached out to ICE over the past week for information regarding Maryna’s case and potential deportation risks but has received no response as of this publication. The urgency of this situation continues to grow as the couple fights for justice and reunification.