Arrested at a USCIS interviewLPR/Green Card
Green-card holders arrested at their USCIS interview
Documented stories describe green-card holders, including military spouses, veterans, and longtime residents, being detained by ICE agents while attending routine USCIS appointments in cities such as San Diego, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Chicago. Outcomes varied, with some released within days, others held for months in facilities like Otay Mesa and Adelanto, and at least one deportation reported. First documented in April 2025, the pattern became recurring by October 2025, peaking in November 2025, and has since made up a smaller share of recent reported cases.
First documented Apr 2025, recurring since Oct 2025. A smaller share of recent stories than at its peak.
Share of each month's well-documented stories, Jan 2025 to Oct 2026. Volume is not shown: coverage grew over the record, shares did not have to.
26 stories in 12 states. What accompanies this practice →
“I am a patriotic American solider. I thought that it would never happen, that this kind of erroneous thing, that four months, two days in this kind of detention, would never happen, should never happen to any disabled decorated American veteran,”
California
- Yumei W.: Chinese woman arrested by ICE without warrant at green card interviewA Chinese woman who had overstayed her visa was arrested without warning during her own immigration interview in May 2026 and denied bond. A court freed her in July, ruling she had a right to remain free from detention.California · May 26, 2026 · CourtListener
Milena A.D.: DACA recipient arrested by ICE right after her green card approvalMilena Araya-Davis, a 27-year-old therapist brought to the U.S. from Peru at age 4, was arrested right after her green card approval and held a week at Otay Mesa, sleeping on the floor.San Diego, CA · May 11, 2026 · NBC San Diego, CBS 8, Radio Bilingüe +1
Lydia R.S.: Navy veteran's wife detained by ICE at green card interview falls illLydia Rabara Swinburne, 39, a Filipino national married to a Navy veteran, was detained at her green card interview and later suffered a medical emergency in custody after a reported medication error. A judge ordered her released in May.California City, CA · Apr 7, 2026 · Newsweek, PACER Monitor, Habeas Dockets
Carlos G.: Green card holder detained for days after rookie ICE agent's paperwork errorsCarlos De La Garza, 55, a Berkeley green card holder, was held for days after a rookie ICE agent with abbreviated training made paperwork errors. The government dropped its case once the errors surfaced.Berkeley, CA · March 16, 2026 · Berkeleyside, ACLU Northern California, Washington Post
Taeha H.: Man in U.S. since infancy detained by ICE at green card interviewTaeha Hwang, 39, who has lived in the U.S. since infancy, was detained during his own green card interview in Los Angeles. He is held at Adelanto, with a hearing set for March 2026.Los Angeles, CA · Mar 1, 2026 · ABC7, KTLA
Mother holding baby arrested by ICE at San Diego green card interviewA British woman was detained while holding her 5-month-old baby at her San Diego green card interview, held five days, then released with her green card approved.San Diego, CA · Nov 20, 2025 · NBC 7, NBC San Diego, Inquisitr +1
Navy veteran's wife held eight days by ICE after green card interviewAn Australian woman married to a Navy veteran was arrested during her green card interview in November 2025 and held eight days before a judge freed her on bond. She has no criminal history.San Diego, CA · Nov 18, 2025 · NBC News, NBC San Diego, B Times Online- Chanidaphon S.: Thai wife of retired Marine arrested by ICE at green card interviewChanidaphon Sopimpa, a Thai national married to a retired Marine, was arrested during her final green card interview and detained at Otay Mesa. She has no criminal history and awaits a bond hearing.San Diego, CA · Nov 18, 2025 · NBC News, NBC San Diego, B Times Online
- Leticia N.: Mother in U.S. 35 years held by ICE at green card interviewLeticia Nevares, a mother of three and elderly caretaker who has lived in the U.S. over 35 years, was detained at her green card interview in Fresno. Her son says she volunteers caring for sick and dying neighbors.Fresno, CA · Oct 28, 2025 · FresnoLand, Newsweek, Trump Whack
Maria Francisca V.C.: Firebaugh mother of four detained by ICE at final green card interviewMaria Francisca Villanueva Caballero, 49, a longtime Firebaugh resident who raised four children now pursuing medicine, veterinary science and law, was detained at her final USCIS residency interview. She remains held at California City.“I've been a good man, I grew up in this country, and I established my family here. I thought I was doing the correct things. It's like a nightmare, we have always been together.” — Alejandro SuarezFirebraugh, CA · Oct 8, 2025 · Merced Sun-Star, FresnoLand, The Fresno Bee +2
Xiomara S.M.: Peruvian asylum seeker detained by ICE despite pending green card applicationXiomara Suarez-Marin, 29, a Peruvian asylum seeker, was detained at a routine USCIS appointment in Los Angeles despite a pending green card case. She remains held at Adelanto, with a hearing set for January 28.Los Angeles, CA · Sep 26, 2025 · Newsweek, ABC7
Connecticut
Zia S.: Afghan interpreter for U.S. military held three months by ICEZia S., a former U.S. military interpreter from Afghanistan and father of five, was detained during a routine Green Card appointment despite legal status. He was freed on bond after nearly three months and reunited with his family in Connecticut.East Hartford, CT · Oct 21, 2025 · CT Insider, New Haven Register, Military.com +2
Zia S.: Afghan interpreter for U.S. troops detained by ICE at green card appointmentZia S., 35, an Afghan father of five who translated for U.S. troops, was detained outside a USCIS office in July. He was freed Oct. 14 and reunited with his family.East Hartford, CT · Jul 16, 2025 · New Haven Independent, Newsweek, CT Insider +1
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Vermont
Washington
Loreto J.: Filipino man, 76, with cancer detained by ICE, misses treatmentsLoreto Javar, a 76-year-old retired hotel worker and father of two with Stage 4 prostate cancer, was detained by ICE during his citizenship interview and has missed cancer treatments while held for months.Fife, WA · Sep 20, 2026 · Newsweek, The Guardian, Documented +4- Zahid C.: U.S. Army veteran loses vision to untreated eye disease in ICE detentionU.S. Army veteran Zahid Chaudhry, a disabled green card holder in the U.S. for 25 years, was freed after a judge called his three-month detention "flat out wrong." He had lost vision to untreated thyroid eye disease.“I am a patriotic American solider. I thought that it would never happen, that this kind of erroneous thing, that four months, two days in this kind of detention, would never happen, should never happen to any disabled decorated American veteran,” — Zahid ChaudhryTacoma, WA · Dec 22, 2025 · Fox 13 Seattle, KTVB, Seattle Times +2
Muhammad C.: Disabled Army veteran detained by ICE at citizenship interview in WashingtonMuhammad Zahid Chaudhry, a disabled Army veteran and disability-rights advocate, was detained after arriving for a citizenship interview. A judge ruled his detention unlawful and ordered his release in December.Tukwila, WA · Aug 21, 2025 · Spokesman-Review, Veterans for Peace, Seattle Times +1
Sergio C.G.: Food truck owner detained by ICE at immigration interview, deported to MexicoSergio Cerdio Gomez, a Pasco food truck owner and father of three, was detained during a scheduled green card interview with his citizen wife, then deported to Chiapas, Mexico in June 2025.Yakima, WA · Jun 2025 · The News Tribune, KIMA TV, Newsweek +3