U.S. Citizens Married to Undocumented Immigrants Face ICE Risk

Mixed-status marriages face constant fear of ICE

Green Card obstacles

Separation of mixed-status families

Thousands of US citizens live a largely unseen reality: being married to an undocumented immigrant without certainty about their future together.

Under the administration of Donald Trump, these marriages face greater obstacles to obtaining a Green Card and a constant fear of intervention by ICE.

Behind the statistics are families who have spent years building their lives in the United States, raising children and caring for sick relatives.

However, the possibility of detention or forced separation continues to shape their daily lives.

Mixed-Status Marriages Under Immigration Pressure

Mixed-Status Marriages Under ICE Risk. Photo: ChatGPT

They also live with the constant fear of possible detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

A recent report by American Families United (AFU) and Relevant Research outlines the direct impact of these policies on mixed-status marriages.

These couples, where one spouse is undocumented, are often between five and 15 years into their marriages.

It is estimated that 1.5 million couples are either separated or living in fear of deportation.

Green Card Blocked and Constant Fear of ICE

Americans married to undocumented immigrants face difficulty obtaining a Green Card and harassment from ICE https://t.co/my3HLvKTHD #remolachanet pic.twitter.com/ofb34Xe5nw

— remolacha.net (@remolacha) February 6, 2026

Most of these couples have strong ties to the United States but lack immigration certainty.

About 80.2% live inside the country. In 11.4% of cases, one partner resides outside the U.S.

Another 8.4% of these couples live abroad due to immigration complications.

The fear of deportation is part of everyday life for these families.

“My undocumented husband and I take my uncle to chemotherapy once a month. When I travel, my husband goes alone,” said one person interviewed. The couple has been married for eight years.

Another U.S. citizen shared her experience after 14 years of marriage.

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“He raised my daughter from a previous relationship as if she were his own. He helped her finish college and now we support her as an adult, and we have a grandson,” she said.

Despite these stories of family roots and contribution, none of these couples has a guarantee of immigration stability.

The Silent Drama of Mixed-Status Marriages

The report warns that some families face devastating scenarios.

“For others, it means something equally devastating: being forced to live apart abroad because their spouse was denied a visa or completely barred from entering the United States,” the document states.

“Many U.S. citizens have never been able to live in this country with their spouse,” the report adds.

The consequences do not only affect the undocumented immigrant.

They directly impact U.S. citizens and their children.

“Ashley DeAzevedo, executive director of AFU Action, said mixed-status couples remain one of the most invisible and least understood groups in the immigration debate.”

She added that citizens and their children often feel isolated and ignored.

She also stated that lawmakers lack sufficient information about the human consequences of current immigration laws.

Could the Dignity Act Change Things?

Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) has introduced the Dignity Act to allow illegals to stay in the US if they’ve succeeded in illegally being here for five years or more.

Why would you reward an illegal for evading capture for 5 years ? pic.twitter.com/9hYvcIdlrI

— JOSH DUNLAP (@JDunlap1974) February 9, 2026

During the presentation of the report “Collateral Damage. How Immigration Policy Harms U.S. Citizens in Mixed-Status Marriages,” Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar of Florida participated in the event.

Salazar is promoting the so-called Dignity Act, according to La Nación.

“Our laws must recognize that U.S. citizens and their families should be together. The Dignity Act would solve this problem by incorporating the American Families United Act to protect U.S. citizens and their families from separation,” she stated.

The legislative proposal is sponsored by Salazar and Democratic Representative Verónica Escobar of Texas.

It proposes offering a seven-year legal status with work authorization. It would apply to immigrants with irregular status who have resided in the country since before December 31, 2020.

The initiative seeks a practical solution to illegal immigration for those already contributing to the country. However, it does not provide a direct path to U.S. citizenship. Each case would be evaluated individually.

While the political debate continues, millions of marriages live with one urgent question: will they be able to stay together in the country they call home?