Marine veteran's wife detained by ICE during green card interview in Las Vegas
Feb 13, 2026·Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Country of origin: Moldova

Diana Butnarciuc, a Moldovan immigrant who arrived in the U.S. legally in 2008, was arrested by ICE agents on February 13, 2026, during a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services interview for a permanent resident card in Las Vegas. Butnarciuc, who is married to Marine veteran Patrick Baja and has two children, has no criminal record, works, and pays taxes. Although she faced a 2018 deportation order after her asylum claim was denied, her marriage to Baja made her eligible for a green card. Her attorney stated that Butnarciuc entered the U.S. legally and should be entitled to permanent resident status. She is being held at Henderson Detention Center, and her husband is seeking her release.
Timeline
Sources
- nationaltoday.com
- Las Vegas veteran says wife detained by ICE despite legal asylum status
KTNV·Feb 14, 2026·archived copy
- ‘She’s never been in jail’: Marine veteran seeks Las Vegas wife’s release from ICE detention
freerepublic.com·archived copy
Yahoo News·Feb 13, 2026·archived copy
- 8newsnow.com
- Wife of Marine veteran deported from Las Vegas weeks after ICE arrest
Yahoo News·Apr 3, 2026·archived copy
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