James Brown, a former U.S. Navy veteran, feels betrayed after immigration officials arrested his wife.
On July 29, federal agents detained Donna Hughes-Brown, 59, when she landed at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport after her Ireland trip.
Although she held a green card for many years, she spent five days in a Chicago detention center. Subsequently, officials moved her to a facility in Campbell County, Kentucky, where she currently awaits her deportation case outcome.
Her husband, James Brown, openly expresses his anger
Furthermore, he supported Trump to “remove criminal immigrants,” but now watches legal residents fight complex cases. He explains that his wife faces deportation due to a minor 2015 incident that she already resolved. As a result, their case has gone viral on social media, with many critics pointing out the harsh treatment of green card holders with old or minor offenses.
Additionally, James Brown, who served in the Navy from the 1980s through the 2000s, has lost faith in the system. He worries that if officials deport his wife, she cannot return to America for ten years.
While avoiding direct comments on Hughes-Brown’s case, DHS officials explain the rules clearly. They state that certain convictions can make a legal resident “inadmissible” at entry points. Therefore, officials can start removal proceedings and hold them without bail. Also, recent changes have added more crimes that require detention, thus limiting judges’ options.
Hughes-Brown arrived in the United States in 1977 as a child. Since then, she has renewed her green card multiple times. Today, she has four children, five grandchildren, and actively helps her community.
In fact, last fall, she and her husband led donation drives to North Carolina. They helped communities recover from Hurricane Helene’s damage, as reported by U.S. media.
Hearings Delayed, Bail Denied: A Legal Struggle
Initially, officials postponed her mid-August bail hearing due to paperwork issues. Later, when the hearing happened, a government lawyer cited new rules to block her release. While judges can grant bail in many cases, strict detention rules now limit their power. Hence, lawyers note that immigration laws have become more complex and stricter in 2025.
Meanwhile, family members have started online fundraising to pay legal costs. They share details about her O’Hare arrest, her transfer to Kentucky, and how the couple has served their community through volunteer work.
Advocates for tighter immigration controls maintain that green cards come with conditions, and therefore, past offenses must have consequences. However, the Hughes-Brown family strongly argues that authorities unfairly target well-integrated community members, highlighting the gap between promised fair treatment and the harsh reality long-term residents face.
No new hearing date has been set. Hughes-Brown remains in detention as her lawyers prepare her defense and her family struggles to cope financially.
https://ctninfo.com/?p=36626&preview=true
Source: Inquisitr News
