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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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A Missouri man who voted for President Donald Trump has told Newsweek he regrets his vote after his wife, who has held a green card for more than 30 years, was detained by federal agents.
Donna Hughes-Brown, a legal permanent resident originally from England, was detained by federal authorities at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago for five days upon returning to the United States from vacation in Ireland on July 29, 2025. She was then transferred to a facility in Campbell County, Kentucky.
Her husband, James Brown, told Newsweek that he "100 percent" regrets his vote for Trump.
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"You look at the news, and they're not telling the truth about what's actually happening to a lot of legal immigrants," Brown told Newsweek. "What's bad is that Trump is so demeaning to people, and he's so condescending and so retaliatory that people are afraid to say anything."
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Why It Matters
Millions of Americans voted for Trump in support of his promise to carry out widespread deportations of migrants living in the U.S. illegally, particularly those with serious criminal records. As immigration enforcement efforts ramp up across the country, concerns are mounting that the Trump administration is not, as it pledged, targeting the "worst first." Newsweek has documented several cases of Trump supporters being affected by the immigration raids.
What To Know
Hughes-Brown's record includes a misdemeanor offense from 2015, which was resolved at the time, her husband said. Under the Trump administration, there has been an increase recently in the detention of legal immigrants with minor past infractions. These infractions can be grounds for detention pending court hearings.
"Lawful Permanent Residents presenting at a U.S. port of entry with certain criminal convictions may be found inadmissible, placed in removal proceedings, and subject to mandatory detention," a senior official of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Newsweek.
Hughes-Brown was born in England and immigrated to the U.S. in 1977 with her parents and brother when she was 11, her husband said. She has resided in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident for over 37 years and has renewed her green card twice since then, according to her husband. Hughes-Brown has four children and five grandchildren.
After five days in Chicago, Brown said his wife was transferred to a detention facility in Kentucky. A bond hearing originally scheduled for August 13 was delayed due to a clerical error.
When the hearing occurred on August 15, a DHS attorney argued that the new law prevented the judge from granting bond, he said. Hughes-Brown's attorney secured a hearing for August 26, where bond was denied.
"Trump advertised that he was getting criminal illegal immigrants and deporting them, which I don't disagree with. But that's not what he's doing," Brown said.
"There are hundreds, maybe thousands, who are being arrested who are legal immigrants in this country. And the entire foundation of America was founded on immigration. So now we're saying that nobody who's not native born should be allowed in this country," he said.
Brown described his wife as someone deeply committed to helping others. He said she has covered grocery bills for struggling single mothers and regularly looks for ways to support people in need.
For the past three years, the couple has also helped maintain "blessings boxes" in their county—small food pantries stocked for homeless residents and families facing hardship. Brown noted that while some donations left in the boxes are not practical, his wife ensures they are filled with groceries and everyday essentials that people can actually use.
That same spirit of service, he said, guided their response to Hurricane Helene last October. Instead of celebrating her birthday, Hughes-Brown suggested they organize relief efforts. They collected donations from their community, filled a 30-foot horse trailer with water, clothing, and other supplies, and drove from Missouri to North Carolina to deliver them. Brown said they made the trip twice over three months and have continued to keep in touch with families they assisted.
"We helped with supplies for Hurricane Helene. We do volunteer work all the time. We give to single mothers. We help out military families. We have a son who is a Marine, and this is our payment," Brown said.
Brown served in the U.S. Navy from 1985 to 2005. During his career, he served in Desert Storm, helped commission an aircraft carrier in 1998, and served with the Marines at Camp Pendleton during the 1990s.
The family has now set up a GoFundMe to raise funds for legal costs.
What People Are Saying
A DHS official told Newsweek: "A green card is a privilege, not a right, and under our nation's laws, our government has the authority to revoke a green card if our laws are broken and abused."
James Brown told Newsweek of his wife: "She's more patriotic than most Americans."
What Happens Next
Hughes-Brown will remain in federal custody pending removal proceedings. She does not have any upcoming hearings.
"They're trying to deport her, and if they deport her, she's gone for 10 years," Brown said.
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