Major U.S. Crackdown: Green Card Applicants Arrested During Interviews, Some Handcuffed
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.
🔒 Arrests Inside USCIS Offices
Reports indicate that:
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Several people appearing for marriage-based green card interviews were detained on the spot.
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In some cases, the spouses accompanying the applicants were also temporarily handcuffed.
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Immigration attorney Saman Naseri stated that the first arrest took place on 12 November, followed by at least four more similar arrests.
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Naseri says he is now receiving multiple calls from families reporting that their relatives were detained during scheduled interviews.
⚠️ Lawyers Advise: Attend the Interview but Stay Alert
Lawyers say:
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Applicants must still attend their interviews, otherwise their case can be denied automatically.
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But they should prepare family arrangements, keep an attorney informed, and understand the risks if they have overstayed their visas.
📌 Past Cases Show the Pattern
Immigration attorney Tessa Cabrera described a similar incident from 2002, where a Mexican client—father to a U.S. citizen daughter—was:
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Arrested immediately after his interview
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Handcuffed by ICE officers
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Transferred to a detention center
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Told that a federal arrest warrant was issued due to immigration violations
❗ Who Is Being Targeted?
According to lawyers:
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None of the detained applicants had any criminal history.
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The only violation: overstaying visas.
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Most were married to U.S. citizens and were attending routine marriage-based green card interviews.
🧑✈️ ICE Statement
An ICE spokesperson said: