Green Card Arrests: ICE Expands Beyond San Diego

A marriage-based green card applicant was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during their final interview in Salt Lake City. Their attorney, Andy Armstrong, witnessed the arrest. The applicant works as a youth soccer coach and has a US citizen spouse and child.

A detention no one expected

ICE officers handcuffed the applicant inside the interview room and escorted them away without letting them speak to their wife. ICE argues that the applicant overstayed their visa and was ordered to leave the US in 2008. Marriage to a US citizen normally forgives past overstays, which makes this detention unusual.

Detentions now happening inside USCIS offices

Immigration experts say this appears to be part of a new pattern. ICE is picking up visa-overstay applicants directly from USCIS interview sites. This type of action was once reported only in San Diego but now seems to be happening in other cities as well, including Boston.

Fear spreads through immigrant communities

The incident has raised concern among families attending green card interviews. Many believe ICE is ramping up detentions to meet targets under Trump administration directives, bringing even low-risk applicants under scrutiny. The result is growing fear among immigrants who once viewed the interview stage as a final milestone toward approval.

A family left in distress

The attorney expects the applicant to be released on bond within two weeks and is confident about winning the case. Still, the family is enduring stress and uncertainty. Lawyers say these actions are designed to intimidate immigrants and make the system feel unsafe.

A dangerous new reality for applicants

Marriage-based applicants now face a dilemma. Missing an interview risks denial, but attending could lead to detention. What was once a routine immigration step now feels like a risk with no clear resolution.