'She’s never been in jail': Marine war veteran pleads for assistance after ICE arrested his wife during interview for permanent resident card

A United States Marine war veteran is pleading for assistance after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested his wife during an interview for a permanent resident card.

Diana Butnarciuc left the Eastern European country of Moldova for a better life in 2008, according to her husband. She has 2 children, works, and pays her taxes. However, she currently sits in the Henderson Detention Center due to a deportation order filed in 2018.




“I served the country, and you know, I would think that the country would serve us in this instance,” Patrick Baja said of his wife. “She’s never been in jail or anything like that, so again this is a brand new thing for her.”

Baja and Butnarciuc’s friends are desperate to try to get her out of ICE detention. Baja said in 2020 he filed an application known as an “I-130 petition for an alien relative”. It serves as a precursor to obtaining a green card.

“I totally understand policies and rules and all that, and again that’s why we followed everything to a “T” when it came to the process,” Baja said. “As a Marine veteran, I would just like the help.”

Baja, his wife, and their attorney were in a US Citizenship and Immigration Services interview in Las Vegas on Wednesday that they waited 5 years for, when the tone quickly changed.

“5 minutes into the interview, ICE came into the room and arrested her,” Baja said. “Confusion, very emotional. We knew it was a possibility.”

Despite Butnarciuc arriving in the United States in 2008 and claiming political asylum, an immigration judge declined her asylum claim in 2018 and filed a removal order, according to her family. However, she then married Baja, which changed her immigration status.

D4vd family ordered to testify in California.

Immigration attorney Darren Heyman said his client has no criminal record and does not understand why ICE arrested her.

“She would otherwise be entitled to a green card in this country. She entered legally. She has zero criminal record. We just want her to be given the same process that was given to lots of people before,” Heyman said.

Heyman said the Trump Administration upended immigration norms, including in Clark County.

“Unfortunately, what was typical is no longer typical,” Heyman said.

Heyman said he is hoping to bond her out of the Henderson Detention Center, so they can finish the process of obtaining a green card. Once she gets a green card, Heyman will then petition a judge to void the deportation order.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is yet to respond to an email from 8 News Now regarding Diana Butnarciuc’s case.