Achieve American Dream Or Get Arrested: US Agencies Detain People During Green Card Interviews

Last Updated:November 28, 2025, 07:45 IST

An ICE spokesperson said that the agency is focused on enforcing federal immigration laws through targeted operations that emphasise national security and public safety.

US federal agencies are detaining people, including spouses of American citizens, during routine Green Card interviews. (Representative image)

US federal agencies have been detaining individuals, including the spouses of American citizens, during routine Green Card interviews at USCIS offices in San Diego, according to US media reports. An attorney reported that his client was detained and handcuffed during a Green Card interview.

Immigration attorney Saman Nasseri noted that federal agencies have begun arresting visa overstays during their interviews. Some couples and their lawyers told The New York Times they had followed the necessary steps to secure permanent residency.

“ICE and USCIS have started implementing a policy where ICE arrests visa overstays at USCIS offices during Green Card interviews," Nasseri was quoted as saying by CBS8.

Nasseri mentioned that five of his clients were taken into custody during Green Card interviews last week. He clarified that his clients had no criminal history or prior arrests.

“None of my clients in this situation have any arrests or criminal history. They entered legally but overstayed their visas. All of my current cases involve people married to US citizens, going through the standard process, and being taken into custody," Nasseri added.

Another attorney, Habib Hasbini, confirmed similar experiences with his clients.

“The first incident occurred on November 12, just before a memo from ICE. Since then, I’ve had four more cases, and I’ve been receiving many calls from people arrested at the same facility," Hasbini told CBS8.

Hasbini noted that, so far, these detentions seem limited to the USCIS office in San Diego.

Hasbini advised those with scheduled Green Card interviews to attend, while being cautious and prepared for potential detentions.

He recommended making family and work arrangements in case of detention, noting that missing an interview could result in case denial for abandonment. Additionally, individuals out of status may still face arrest by ICE, according to CBS8.

Mexican Detained

Immigration attorney Tessa Cabrera told ABC10 that her client, a Mexican national residing in the US since 2002, was handcuffed and taken into custody during his Green Card interview. According to ABC10, the man’s US citizen daughter had applied for his permanent residency.

“The officer said, ‘I’ll be right back,’ then two ICE officers entered, asked for his name, and handcuffed him," Cabrera said.

The client was taken to the basement of the federal building and detained at Otay Mesa Detention Center, Cabrera added.

She said ICE officers provided a “Warrant for Arrest" issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

The warrant stated probable cause based on statements made to the immigration officer or evidence that the person lacked immigration status or was removable under immigration law, according to the report.

ICE Defends Arrests

An ICE spokesperson told CBS8 that the agency is focused on enforcing federal immigration laws through targeted operations that emphasise national security, public safety, and border security.

“Individuals unlawfully present in the United States, including those out of status at federal sites such as USCIS offices, may face arrest, detention, and removal in accordance with US immigration law," the spokesperson said, as reported by CBS8.

News world Achieve American Dream Or Get Arrested: US Agencies Detain People During Green Card Interviews

Read More