Daniela Bittner, a former owner of Peanut the squirrel, is in U.S. immigration detention while removal proceedings continue; her husband says deportation could force their animal sanctuary to close, The Associated Press reported Nov. 11.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says Bittner stayed in the country beyond her authorized period. DHS told AP she would remain in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody during the removal process. AP reported that Germany is a possible destination for deportation.
Bittner’s husband, Mark Longo, told AP he believes an immigration-form error that the couple missed led to her detention. He said she had moved through several facilities and was in Texas when he spoke with the news service. Longo said deportation could end the sanctuary’s work: “The only outcome that will save this place is my wife not being deported.”
New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) took Peanut and a raccoon named Fred from the couple’s residence on Oct. 30, 2024. AP reported that complaints about wildlife at the home preceded the seizure and that Peanut bit a DEC worker. Officials euthanized the pair so they could be tested for rabies; a county official later said the tests were negative.
The case became a political issue before the 2024 U.S. election. AP reported that Republicans criticized New York’s response and Gov. Kathy Hochul.
