A Florida Man Defends His Trump Vote Despite Wife’s ICE Detention

A man from Florida, who backs President Donald Trump, expressed no regrets about his voting choice after federal immigration agents detained his wife. His wife was held while her green card application was still pending. Mounque ‘Monk’ Barazone stated that his wife, Gloria Barazone, a Colombian national, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Newark Liberty International Airport. She was traveling from New Jersey to Miami in July. This incident is among several recent cases where the spouses of U.S. citizens with pending immigration applications have been detained by federal agents.

Barazone, aged 77, affirmed his voting decision, saying, “No. Absolutely not.” He remarked that the country would be worse off under the continuation of the Biden administration.

Gloria Barazone’s Arrest: Key Details

Gloria Barazone entered the United States using a tourist visa and later sought permanent residency through marriage, a process started fifteen years ago. The couple spent nearly three years working through the immigration system, including submitting necessary documents, getting visa extensions, and attending a green card interview earlier this year. At the time of her arrest, she had a pending application for a green card, work authorization, and a Social Security number. She was also issued a Florida Real ID driver’s license while awaiting the decision on her case.

“I don’t believe you arrest American citizens’ spouses and then tell them to spend tens of thousands of dollars they don’t have,”

Barazone told Newsweek. Though he agrees with 80% of what Trump is doing, he opposes part of the policy, particularly when it affects American citizens’ wives.

After her detention, Barazone attempted to communicate with an ICE officer, explaining his wife’s status as the spouse of a U.S. citizen with an active immigration case. Despite his efforts, she remained in custody. She was first held in New Jersey, then transferred to Louisiana, and eventually to the South Texas ICE Processing Center. Barazone claims that these transfers disrupted the ongoing legal efforts in each location and necessitated the repeated re-filing of court documents, increasing legal expenses for the family.

Attorneys quickly pursued several legal remedies regarding her transfer and detention status. Barazone notes that transferring his wife between facilities complicated these efforts and added to the family’s financial burden.

ICE’s Response and Barazone’s Efforts for Help

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) informed Newsweek that ICE carried out a “targeted immigration enforcement operation” on July 30, which included arresting Gloria Barazone. Despite having legally entered the country, she overstayed her allowed period from January 18 to July 17, 2025, violating immigration laws. Under Trump’s immigration policy, there is a heightened focus on detaining migrants who overstay visas.

Barazone sought help from the offices of Florida Senator Ashley Moody and Representative María Elvira Salazar, both Republicans. However, Barazone claims that obtaining required signed consent forms from his wife was hindered by her detention, affecting the possibility of direct intervention from these lawmakers.

Financial and Health Challenges

Barazone reports that his wife is a skilled security professional with previous work experience at Medellín’s airport, where she was known as Alpha Uno. After moving to Colombia, they lived together for over ten years and he adopted her two children. Later, Gloria became a polygraph examiner and established a business in Colombia with approvals from both Colombian and U.S. authorities.

Barazone stresses his support for arresting criminal aliens but believes that Trump’s administration faces challenges beyond its control. He mentioned his willingness to spend his monthly Social Security payments on legal fees and noted that relatives had to borrow significant sums to support the legal fight.

At 77, he faces pressing health issues. He is partially disabled, suffers from cardiac problems, and undergoes multiple surgeries that might be delayed due to ongoing legal battles for his wife’s release. “I’m not doing well. I have cardiac problems that have become worse,” he said, highlighting the personal toll of the situation.

Barazone remains a supporter of Trump’s broader immigration strategy but advocates for reconsideration in handling specific cases. “There should be a standard when they’re enforcing immigration laws on illegal immigrants, especially the criminals,” he suggests. “But they should have a separate standard for American citizens.”

Newsweek sought comments from the offices of Moody and Salazar for additional insights on this ongoing case.