Green Card Interviews Turn Risky as Federal Agents Detain Applicants in San Diego

San Diego: There are reports of the detention of many people who had come to give green card interviews in America. According to media reports, federal agencies at the USCIS offices in San Diego have also caught people who are married to American citizens. In some cases, people were taken away in handcuffs from the interview room itself.

What did the lawyers say about these arrests?

Immigration attorney Saman Nasseri said that in recent days several of his clients have been caught by ICE during interviews. He says that it is shocking for this to happen to couples who follow the green card process. He said that this action is being taken against those who had entered the country legally but overstayed their visas.

Has visa overstay become the new reason for arrest?

According to Nasseri, USCIS and ICE have implemented a new policy under which if a person is out of status, he or she is arrested during the interview. He said that five of his clients, who had no criminal history, were detained for this reason only.

Are these arrests limited to San Diego only?

Habib Hasbini, another lawyer, also confirmed such incidents and said he witnessed the first arrests in November. He says that currently this action seems to be taking place only at the USCIS office in San Diego, although many other people have also made similar complaints.

Is it still necessary to go to interviews?

Hasbini advised people that it would be a mistake not to go for an interview, as this could result in the case being considered “invalid.” He said that if a person is already out of status, there is still a risk of arrest by not attending the interview. He also advised making arrangements related to family and work in advance.

What happened in the interview with the Mexican citizen?

Lawyer Tessa Cabrera said her client, who had been living in the US since 2002 and whose US citizen daughter had applied for a green card for him, was caught by ICE during the interview. According to Cabrera, the officers went outside briefly, and two ICE officers returned, who asked her name and immediately handcuffed her. From there she was sent to Otay Mesa Detention Center.

How is ICE defending these arrests?

ICE says it is just following the law. USCIS offices are also not safe places from arrest if a person is in an illegal state, an agency spokesperson said. According to the spokesperson, such actions are taken keeping in mind national security, public safety, and border security, and immigration law allows them.