A Florida resident, Mounque “Monk” Barazone, has expressed unwavering support for President Donald Trump even after federal immigration agents detained 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 with her green card application pending.
Barazone’s Perspective
Barazone, 77, stated he has no regrets about voting for Trump in the 2024 election. He believes that the country would be in a worse state under the Biden administration. Gloria Barazone, 46, entered the United States on a tourist visa and sought permanent residency through their 15-year marriage. The couple spent nearly three years navigating the immigration system, filing paperwork and attending a green card interview earlier this year.
At the time of her arrest, her applications for a green card, work authorization, and Social Security number were pending. She had also received a Real ID driver’s license from Florida. Barazone expressed his disbelief at the arrest, stating, “I don’t believe you arrest American citizens’ spouses and then tell them to spend tens of thousands of dollars they don’t have.” He supports much of Trump’s policies but criticizes the arrest of citizens’ spouses.
Legal Challenges and Transfers
After his wife’s detention, Barazone tried to reason with an ICE officer, highlighting her active immigration case. Despite this, her detention proceeded. Gloria was moved from New Jersey to Louisiana and later to the South Texas ICE Processing Center. Barazone reported that these transfers complicated legal efforts, forcing attorneys to refile documents at each location, increasing the family’s legal expenses.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated Gloria was arrested during a targeted immigration operation on July 30. She overstayed her visa after entering the U.S. on January 18, 2025, with permission to stay until July 17, 2025. The Trump administration’s strategy has focused on arresting visa overstayers.
Political and Financial Pressures
Barazone sought assistance from Florida Senator Ashley Moody and Representative María Elvira Salazar, both Republicans. Their offices required signed consent forms from Gloria, which could not be delivered while she was detained, hindering direct intervention.
Financial strain emerged as a substantial burden for the family. Barazone has committed his Social Security payments toward legal costs while family members borrowed money to support legal fees. Besides financial worries, Barazone’s health has worsened amidst the ordeal. He is partially disabled, facing cardiac issues that may lead to postponed surgeries.
Despite these challenges, Barazone maintains his support for Trump’s immigration reforms but insists on different standards for cases involving American citizens. He suggests distinct protocols should apply, especially concerning non-criminal immigrants.
Newsweek attempted to contact the offices of Moody and Salazar for additional comments on the situation.