US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reportedly started detaining individuals during green card interviews at USCIS offices. “ICE and USCIS have started implementing a policy where ICE is now making arrests at USCIS offices during the green card interviews on anyone who is a visa overstay. If they’re out of status, ICE makes that arrest at the interviews,” immigration attorney Saman Nasseri said, as quoted by CBS 8.
Nasseri reported that five of his clients were detained last week. None of them had criminal records or prior arrests. All were spouses of US citizens going through the standard green card process.“None of my clients have any arrests or criminal history. These are just cases where they entered legally and overstayed their visa, all of my cases right now are people that have been married to US citizens, so these are spouses of US citizens that are going through the normal process, the normal channels, and they’re being taken into custody,” Nasseri said.Immigration attorney Habib Hasbini confirmed similar cases. He said the detentions appear limited to the San Diego USCIS office. “The first one was November 12, the eve of the memo that came down from ICE. After that, I had four to follow through, but I’ve been getting a lot of phone calls from people who were arrested from the same facility,” Hasbini said.“I have relationships with many attorneys working in many other counties; this is not happening for their clients in their vicinity, or it’s only happening in San Diego,” Hasbini added.Hasbini advised those with upcoming green card interviews to attend, but to plan for the possibility of detention, as missing an interview can result in case denial for abandonment.
Arrests in front of familiesReports from The Mirror describe ICE agents entering green card interview rooms in San Diego and arresting at least two immigrants in front of their American spouses and a six-month-old infant. The incidents occurred days after the November 12 start of similar arrests.In one case, Audrey Hestmark, the American wife of German national Tom Bilger, described three masked ICE agents handcuffing her husband and showing a QR code instead of identification, reported CTN.In another, Stephen Paul witnessed ICE arrest his British wife, Katie. The couple had decided to remain in the United States for her high-risk pregnancy.What ICE saysAn ICE spokesperson told CBS 8 that the agency is “committed to enforcing federal immigration laws through targeted operations that prioritise national security, public safety, and border security.” The statement noted that individuals unlawfully present in the US, including those out of status at federal sites such as USCIS offices, may face arrest, detention, and removal under US immigration law.ICE also said self-deportation remains the safest and most efficient option for those living illegally in the country. Tools like the CBP Home app are available to assist individuals with the process.Impact on migrant communitiesImmigration attorneys say arrests during green card interviews are unprecedented and may deter individuals from attending appointments, even when they are legally eligible for adjustment of status, reported The Mirror.Families face immediate impacts, including separation from spouses or children and uncertainty about the outcome of their immigration cases.As Stephen Paul said, “We had done everything they asked us to do. We were told it was the right procedure. And despite all that, they arrested her.”
