Marine Veteran’s Wife Freed From ICE Custody After Judge’s Order And Senator’s Help

 

Paola Clouatre, a Mexican national and the wife of a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, has been released from an immigration detention center in Louisiana following a federal judge’s decision and support from U.S. Senator John Kennedy.

Clouatre was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in late May during a green card application appointment. Her release came shortly after her deportation order was halted by an immigration judge and a formal request for her release was submitted by Senator Kennedy’s office.

By Monday, Clouatre had returned home to Baton Rouge, where she reunited with her husband, Adrian Clouatre, and their two young children.

A Family Reunited

Clouatre’s detention deeply impacted her family, particularly her breastfeeding infant daughter and toddler son. Upon returning home, she expressed a sense of emotional relief and reconnection with her children.

“I was feeling bad,” she said about her time in custody. “I was feeling like I failed my kids.”

Adrian Clouatre, who served in the Marine Corps, said the experience was painful and frustrating. “It shouldn’t just be like a blanket ‘Oh, they’re illegal, throw them in ICE detention,’” he said. “They should actually look at the circumstances.”

Legal Background and Support

Paola Clouatre came to the U.S. from Mexico as a child with her mother while seeking asylum. Though she was legally processed at the time, her mother later missed a court hearing, and in 2018, a deportation order was issued against Paola. By that point, Paola was estranged from her mother and homeless.

The family’s attorney contacted Senator Kennedy’s office in early June after her detention. By July, a judge had paused her deportation, and Kennedy’s staff sent the release request to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which manages ICE. She was freed the next working day.

A representative from Kennedy’s office, Christy Tate, wrote in an email to the family, “God is truly great! I am so happy for you and your family.”

The Department of Homeland Security previously stated it considered Clouatre to be in the country unlawfully. Officials have not yet commented publicly on her release.

Ongoing Immigration Process

Though Paola Clouatre is now back home, her immigration proceedings are far from over. Her attorney anticipates a long legal journey, but the current outcome looks favorable and she is expected to eventually obtain permanent residency.

In the meantime, she wears an ankle monitor but is able to resume life with her family.

On the day of her arrest, Paola and Adrian had planned to enjoy beignets in New Orleans — a small but meaningful outing that was interrupted. Now, Adrian says, they’ll finally make up for that lost moment: “We’re going to make that day up.”