Faria Milenko, a Venezuelan man, presented his case to asylum officials at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office near Los Angeles. His wife, Dr. Rubeliz Bolivar, a recognized physician in South Texas, was scheduled to join him at the interview; however, she was detained at an airport with their 5-year-old daughter as they were preparing to board a flight to California.
Dr. Bolivar, 33, was arrested by Border Patrol agents at McAllen International Airport while holding her daughter, who is a U.S. citizen. They were heading to their long-awaited asylum interview after over a decade of waiting to pursue their case together.
In her absence, Milenko expressed deep concern, stating, We have never done anything outside the law and highlighted their lawful attempts to gain residency in the U.S. He noted that Bolivar had traveled to the United States on a tourist visa in 2016 after graduating from medical school in Venezuela.
Following a surge in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, Bolivar's detention falls amidst broader concerns over nationality and legal status not only affecting her but also other medical professionals such as Dr. Ezequiel Veliz, who faced similar arrests this past week.
Veliz had to seek immediate legal assistance and was released after paying a bond following ten days in detention.
Dr. Bolivar, who has been serving in a medically underserved area since her residency started in 2025, now finds herself caught in the complex web of U.S. immigration and asylum laws, raising important discussions around healthcare professionals' rights amidst stringent immigration policies.
With the couple also in the process of securing a green card through Milenko's employment, the future for their family remains uncertain as they navigate these unexpected legal challenges.
Milenko Faria waiting outside the asylum office.
