A woman who voted for Donald Trump because of his immigration policies is now facing the prospect of having her husband deported to Mexico.

Helen Beristain said she cast her ballot for the president believing that only "killers" and cartel members would be deported.

"We don’t want to have cartels here, you don’t want to have drugs in your high schools, you don’t want killers next to you,” she told Indiana Public Media. “You want to feel safe when you leave your house. I truly believe that. And, this is why I voted for Mr. Trump."

But her 43-year-old husband Roberto is now facing deportation after US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials ruled he should be forcibly removed from the US.

Mr Beristain arrived in the US in 1998 and illegally stayed on, despite a deportation order handed down in 2000.

During a trip to Niagara Falls in 2000 with his wife, Helen, and stepson, Phil Kolliopoulos, Beristain was arrested when the family inadvertently took a wrong turn and arrived at the Canadian border, Mr Kolliopoulos wrote on a petition, calling for him to stay.

After hiring a lawyer and posting $1,500 (£1,200) in bail, Mr Beristain was released on a voluntary self-deportation order, giving him 60 days to leave the country.

Fearing for his pregnant wife, he chose to stay, Mr Kolliopoulos said, adding that he went on to obtain a driver's licence, social security card, and work permit.

The couple went on to have three children, who he supported by running a steak restaurant near their home in Granger, Indiana.

Mr Beristain was also making a regular check-in visit with ICE officials, who had allowed him to stay, until they changed their minds last month and detained him.

His detention came amid a crackdown on illegal immigration ordered by President Donald Trump early in his tenure.

He promised to deport "probably two million, even three million" people within two years and during his campaign infamously said Mexican immigrants were "bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists and some, I assume, are good people".

Ms Beristain's wife Helen said Mr Trump "did say the good people would not be deported, the good people would be checked."

Mr Kolliopoulos described him as a "supportive and loving husband and father", and "very dedicated" to his restaurant which Mr Kolliopoulos said provided income to 20 families.

He added: "Roberto is the cook, buser, server, bartender and host, filling in wherever possible at his restaurant. He is hard-working, genuine and the most trustworthy person."

An ICE spokeswoman said: "Roberto Beristain-Cegueda remains in ICE custody pending his removal to Mexico. For operational security reasons, ICE does not release information regarding upcoming removals.

"On 6 February, ICE officers in Indianapolis, Indiana, arrested Roberto Beristain-Cegueda, a 43-year-old Mexican national, based on his final order of removal.

"On 5 October, 2000, a federal immigration judge granted him 'voluntary departure' for a period of 60 days. When he failed to depart the United States by that time as required, his voluntary departure order reverted to a final order of removal."

Ms Beristain has filed paperwork to establish a legal basis for her husband to remain in the US, according to the petition.

Trump pretends to drive a truck as healthcare bill struggles to pass

Mr Beristain's is not the first case of its kind.

Last month a southern Illinois community that solidly backed Mr Trump in the election rallied behind a Mexican restaurant manager who did not have permission to live in the US, and had been detained by ICE.

Many in West Frankfort, population 8,000, did not know Juan Carlos Hernandez Pacheco was living there illegally until his arrest.

One said: "I think people need to do things the right way, follow the rules and obey the laws.

"But in the case of Carlos, I think he may have done more for the people here than this place has ever given him. I think it's absolutely terrible that he could be taken away."

Also in February, Democratic Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer lashed out at what he called Mr Trump's "mass deportation plan" and said it "must be stopped".

"We can all agree that violent criminals should be removed, but it is outrageous and unacceptable for ICE to target or arrest innocent immigrant families contributing to our nation and working to achieve the American Dream," he said.

In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Show all 32 1 /32 In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London An image of President Donald Trump is seen on a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A view of the skywriting word reading 'Trump' as thousands rally in support of equal rights in Sydney, New South Wales EPA In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome People shout and hold signs during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A protester holds a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille A placard ready 'Pussy grabs back' is attached to the handle bar of a bike during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok A young Thai girl holds a "women's rights are human rights" sign at Roadhouse BBQ restaurant where many of the Bangkok Womens March participants gathered in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok A Thai woman takes a photo of a "hate is not great" sign at the women's solidarity gathering in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok American expats and travellers gather with the international community in Bangkok at the Roadhouse BBQ restaurant to stand in solidarity in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protetesters gather outside The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille Women's March at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille Protestors hold placards reading 'My body my choice, my vote my voice' during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome A person holds a sign during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Kolkata Activist Sarah Annay Williamson holds a placard and shouts slogan during the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Kolkata Activists participate in the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A Women's March placards are rested on a bench outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A women carries her placard ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila Women protesters shout slogans while displaying placards during a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President Donald Trump, in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Melbourne Protesters take part in the Melbourne rally to protest against the Trump Inauguration in Melbourne, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters take part in the Women's March rally in Macau Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Melbourne Womens march on Melbourne protestors marching during a rally where rights groups marched in solidarity with Americans to speak out against misogyny, bigotry and hatred Rex In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau, Macau. The Women's March originated in Washington DC but soon spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila A mother carries her son as they join a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney An infant is held up at a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman attends a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman expresses her Anti-Trump views in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydeney Protesters demonstrate against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia. The marches in Australia were organised to show solidarity with those marching on Washington DC and around the world in defense of women's rights and human rights Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protesters march from The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square towards Trafalgar Square during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protesters carrying banners take part in the Women's March on London, as they stand in Trafalgar Square, in central London Reuters

The President's executive order has met with resistance at state level. A number of cities have pledged to keep their "sanctuary" status, which means local agencies' ability to cooperate with federal immigration authorities is deliberately limited.