San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones speaks to reporters after a recent town hall. Credit: Jacob R. Lopez

Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones this week asked federal authorities to reconsider White House immigration enforcement practices that have led to U.S. military personnel’s family members being detained and targeted for deportation.

In an Oct. 21 letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Jones asked the departments to reconsider immigration enforcement sweeps targeting service members’ relatives.

“We fear such actions may dampen interest in military service, while introducing unneeded stress during a time of heightened military operations,” Jones wrote. “As Military City USA, we recognize and appreciate the service of everyone courageous enough to support and defend the Constitution, and the family members — irrespective of citizenship — who make that service possible.”

Jones’ letter comes amid growing concern about the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement practices. Federal immigration officials have detained more than 50 relatives of active-duty service members since the start of the president’s second term, according to an Associated Press investigation.

“The recent report of a military spouse being apprehended and detained by federal immigration officials in September 2026 while on base at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi is deeply troubling,” Jones added.

The mayor is specifically referring to the case of 35-year-old mother and military spouse Giovanna Perez, whom ICE officials detained after she tried to pick up ID cards providing access to military healthcare and other benefits. Perez entered the United States without inspection when she was 6 years old, The Atlantic reports.

Military family protections don’t prevent ICE from enforcing the Immigration and Nationality Act against spouses who lack lawful immigration status.

However, certain qualifying undocumented relatives of service members can remain in the United States while they pursue legal residency under Military Parole In Place, provided they receive approval from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Although Perez reportedly applied for legal status, The Atlantic’s report doesn’t establish whether USCIS had approved it, potentially leaving her vulnerable to immigration enforcement.

The issue carries particular significance in San Antonio, home to four major military installations and the Department of Defense’s largest joint base.

Jones’ letter follows criticism from other leaders over ICE actions targeting military families.

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, called for the release of San Antonio resident Maria Rocho, who was detained during a green card interview back in August. Rocho is the mother of U.S. Naval Academy midshipman David Garcia.

“To that end, I request that you reconsider the practice of apprehending and detaining service members’ spouses and qualified family members as they lawfully seek permanent residence or citizenship and that you give them the strongest preference for approval of that status,” Jones concluded. “These families are among the very best of our communities, and it is only to our benefit to embrace their commitment to our country.”

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