Immigration attorneys are reporting an alarming trend in San Diego, where federal agencies, including ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), are detaining and handcuffing individuals during routine Green Card interviews at USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) offices.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This new enforcement action is primarily targeting individuals who are visa overstays—even those who have no criminal history and are married to U.S. citizens.
Key Details and Attorney Observations:
- Who is being detained? Individuals who entered the U.S. legally but overstayed their visas (“out of status”). Several reported cases involve spouses of U.S. citizens going through the standard residency application process.
- Location: While ICE maintains it enforces laws at federal sites, attorneys note these detentions appear to be currently concentrated at the San Diego USCIS office.
- The Arrest Procedure: According to attorney testimony, a USCIS officer may step out of the interview room, and two ICE officers will then enter to place the applicant in handcuffs.
- ICE’s Position: An ICE spokesperson confirmed they are “focused on enforcing federal immigration laws” and that individuals unlawfully present at federal sites, including USCIS offices, “may face arrest, detention, and removal.”
Advice for Applicants
Attorneys are urging applicants who are “out of status” to proceed with extreme caution:
- Do Not Abandon Your Case: You are advised to still attend your scheduled Green Card interview, as failure to appear can result in case denial for abandonment.
- Prepare for Detention: Be cautious and prepared for potential detention. Attorneys recommend making family and work arrangements in advance.
This development signals a significant policy shift, turning an interview intended to grant legal status into an enforcement opportunity for detention.
