Marine Veteran's Wife Released After Arrest While Breastfeeding in Immigration Case

Paola Clouatre's Journey Home

Paola Clouatre, a 25-year-old mother of two from Mexico and the wife of a Marine veteran, has finally returned home to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She was released this week on her own recognizance after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a green card appointment in late May. Her reunion with her two young children and husband, Adrian, marks a significant moment in their lives.

Paola had been held at a facility approximately three hours away from her family, who live in Baton Rouge. During her time in detention, she was still breastfeeding her 4-month-old daughter, Lyn. Now, she is back with her husband, Adrian, 26, and their two children—Noah, nearly 2 years old, and Lyn.

The couple shared their story with a news outlet from Louisiana, with their kids cooing and laughing in the background just one day after they were reunited when ICE released Paola from detention. Their experience highlights the challenges faced by many families caught in the U.S. immigration system.

Paola’s case is part of an increasing number of cases that have drawn attention to federal immigration policies. President Donald Trump campaigned on cracking down on illegal immigration, but some of his deportations have sparked major debates. Despite this, Paola is now required to wear an ankle monitor for the remainder of her legal proceedings.

Although ICE did not respond to a request for comment on her release, Homeland Security officials have defended the decision to detain Paola as important for law enforcement. According to her attorney, Carey Holliday, and her husband, Paola was brought to the U.S. as a teenager by her mother, from whom she is now estranged. Initially, she was granted protection under the asylum system. However, a removal order was issued against her after she missed a hearing in 2018, something she claims she was unaware of for years.

Her long drive home with Adrian on Monday, July 28, gave them plenty of time to plan the moment she would reunite with her children. Adrian described the emotional scene, where Paola hid in the car while the dogs and kids were let out. She watched them for a moment before suddenly appearing. Their son Noah looked momentarily "shocked" before running to her, while their daughter Lyn wanted to be held by her mother all the time.

"It's something I can't describe, because it's like — it's happiness, love," Paola said of holding her children again outside the walls of the detention center. She recalled how difficult it was to watch her husband and kids walk away after each visit, especially when Noah cried. "It is very difficult, it's hard, being there without your family and just being locked up, it is like jail," she added.

Adrian shared that Paola was 14 when she was brought to the U.S. from Mexico by her mother. After becoming estranged from her mother, it became challenging for her to track her legal status. It was only while applying to become a permanent resident after marrying Adrian in 2024 that Paola learned she was subject to a deportation order.

The couple was honest about their situation during the green card appointment, but it did not prevent what happened next. Adrian described the moment he hugged and kissed her goodbye, saying, "We talked for two minutes and then they took her into the ICE facility."

In a statement, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin cited Paola's removal order from 2018 and said, "President Trump and Secretary Noem are not going to ignore the rule of law." In July, a judge granted a motion to reopen Paola's case, and the venue was later changed from California, where the couple met and lived, to Louisiana, where they are raising their family.

The Executive Office for Immigration Review website currently lists the status of her proceedings as pending. Paola expressed her feelings about returning home, saying, "I struggled to sleep last night. But it feels warm to be back to my bed and cuddle my husband, cuddle my kids."