Brit who has lived in US for 30 years facing deportation after husband voted for Trump

A British woman who has lived legally in the US for over three decades is facing deportation - after her husband helped vote in Donald Trump and his immigration purge.

Donna Hughes-Brown, a 59-year-old permanent resident originally from England, was detained by federal agents on 29 July at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport following a holiday in Ireland.

After five days in detention in Chicago, she was transferred to a facility in Campbell County, Kentucky, where she remains in custody.

Now her husband, James Brown, said he now "100 per cent" regrets voting for Trump, effectively ensuring his wife being booted out of the States.

"You look at the news, and they're not telling the truth about what's actually happening to a lot of legal immigrants," he said.

"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."

Brown's change of heart underscores growing concern that the Trump administration's sweeping immigration enforcement policies are not exclusively targeting undocumented migrants with serious criminal records.

Instead, they are ensnaring long-standing legal residents for minor infractions.

In Hughes-Brown's case, the issue stems from a misdemeanour dating back to 2015, which her husband says was resolved at the time.

Nevertheless, a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to that "Lawful Permanent Residents presenting at a US port of entry with certain criminal convictions may be found inadmissible, placed in removal proceedings, and subject to mandatory detention."

Hughes-Brown immigrated to the States in 1977 at the age of 11 with her parents and brother.

Since then, she has held a green card for more than 37 years, renewing it twice, and built a life in the US with her four children and five grandchildren.

After being detained in Chicago, Hughes-Brown was transferred to Kentucky.

A bond hearing initially set for 13 August was delayed due to a clerical error.

When the hearing finally took place on 15 August, a DHS attorney argued that new legislation prevented bond from being granted.

A second hearing on 26 August resulted in bond being 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," said Brown.

"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."

Brown described his wife as a community-minded woman who has dedicated much of her life to supporting those in need.

Among her charitable activities, she regularly donates groceries to struggling single mothers and helps maintain "blessing boxes" - small, free food packages placed throughout her local area to assist homeless individuals and families in hardship.

That same community spirit was on full display during Hurricane Helene in October last year, when Hughes-Brown foregoed her birthday celebrations to organise aid for families affected by the disaster.

She and her husband collected donations, filled a 30-foot horse trailer with supplies, and drove from Missouri to North Carolina, not once, but twice over a three-month period.

"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," said Brown.

A former US Navy serviceman himself, he served from 1985 to 2005, including in Desert Storm, with the Marines at Camp Pendleton, and helped commission an aircraft carrier in 1998.

He says the family has now launched a GoFundMe page to cover legal fees as they fight to keep Hughes-Brown in the country.

A DHS spokesperson said: "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."

Hughes-Brown is to remain in 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.