Saturday, March 29, 2025
A growing number of green card applicants in the United States are facing arrest during their USCIS interviews, according to multiple reports and immigration lawyers. Those overstaying their visas—even if married to U.S. citizens—are being taken into custody, sometimes in handcuffs.
Reports indicate that:
Several people appearing for marriage-based green card interviews were detained on the spot.
In some cases, the spouses accompanying the applicants were also temporarily handcuffed.
Immigration attorney Saman Naseri stated that the first arrest took place on 12 November, followed by at least four more similar arrests.
Naseri says he is now receiving multiple calls from families reporting that their relatives were detained during scheduled interviews.
Lawyers say:
Applicants must still attend their interviews, otherwise their case can be denied automatically.
But they should prepare family arrangements, keep an attorney informed, and understand the risks if they have overstayed their visas.
Immigration attorney Tessa Cabrera described a similar incident from 2002, where a Mexican client—father to a U.S. citizen daughter—was:
Arrested immediately after his interview
Handcuffed by ICE officers
Transferred to a detention center
Told that a federal arrest warrant was issued due to immigration violations
According to lawyers:
None of the detained applicants had any criminal history.
The only violation: overstaying visas.
Most were married to U.S. citizens and were attending routine marriage-based green card interviews.
An ICE spokesperson said:
Enforcement is being intensified to protect national security.
Those violating immigration laws—including visa overstays—will be detained and deported according to federal law.
