A decorated US Army veteran has declared her intention to abandon the United States, describing the nation as fundamentally "broken," following the dramatic arrest of her husband by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during what should have been a routine green card interview.
Arrest During Immigration Process
Matheus Silveira, a 30-year-old delivery driver, was in the midst of explaining his reasons for seeking permanent residency at a US Citizenship and Immigration Services office in San Diego, California, when the situation turned chaotic. Four ICE officers abruptly entered the interview room on November 22, 2025, and took him into custody for overstaying his visa.
He was subsequently transferred to an ICE detention facility, where he has remained. His wife, Hannah Silveira, also 30, is a former combat medic who served her country and is now a qualified lawyer. She expressed profound disillusionment, stating she feels America is "entirely unsafe" and that she has been forced to relinquish her life there.
Plans Shattered and a Future Abroad
The couple, who met in 2022 and married in August 2024, had been building a life together with concrete plans to purchase a home, start a family, and launch a joint business. They intended to relocate to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to be nearer to Hannah's family. Those aspirations have now been completely derailed.
"I am absolutely devastated that I have to give up everything," Hannah revealed. "It feels so defeating. I am a veteran. I was in the military. I gave a lot to my country, and I feel like they have given me nothing. I don't feel at home here anymore."
Detention Conditions and Legal Complexities
Hannah has visited her husband in detention and described troubling conditions. She reported that family visitation areas displayed posters encouraging detainees to leave the US, with messages like "this will be easier if you just go home." Matheus has allegedly complained of insufficient food, comparing meals to small school portions, and noted overcrowding where individuals were sleeping on floors due to a lack of beds.
Complicating his case, a prior charge for drink driving meant Matheus was deemed ineligible for bond, classified as a potential "danger to the community." Hannah contends that their legal counsel had previously advised that proceeding with the green card application was permissible despite his visa status.
A Voluntary Departure and a Permanent Exit
Facing an uncertain immigration battle, Matheus has been granted a voluntary departure order, an alternative to formal deportation. This has precipitated the couple's decision to leave the United States permanently within the coming weeks and resettle in Brazil, Matheus's home country.
Hannah's criticism extends to the broader political climate, expressing fear about the future direction of US immigration policy. "A lot of us are concerned that Trump will find a way to stay in power," she said. "The scariest part of it all for me is that Trump is either going to deport every immigrant in the US or he will do something, so this destruction will happen forever."
A Final Farewell to a Changed Homeland
For this veteran, the America she once served no longer exists. "America is broken," she stated definitively. "If we returned, we would be returning to a place we no longer recognise." Their story adds a poignant, personal dimension to the ongoing national debates surrounding immigration enforcement, veterans' support, and the perceived fairness of the US legal system for mixed-status families.
