Immigration Attorneys confirm a shocking trend: routine US Green Card Interviews are leading to immediate ICE Arrests for simple visa overstays, impacting spouses of US citizens. Learn the USCIS Interview Arrest Risk, the legal basis for the detentions, and the critical need for legal preparation before your appointment.
US Green Card Interview Arrest Risk Immigration Attorneys Warning
A disturbing and unprecedented trend is unfolding within the American immigration system, casting a shadow of fear over individuals pursuing the American Dream. Immigration attorneys across the United States are issuing urgent warnings: a routine US Green Card Interview is no longer a guaranteed “safe zone” and can, in fact, result in immediate ICE Arrests. This chilling reality has primarily impacted individuals seeking adjustment of status, particularly spouses of US citizens who have committed the civil violation of a visa overstay.
The practice, which one prominent American immigration lawyer termed “evil, but true,” involves US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers detaining applicants—often with no prior criminal history—immediately after or even during their interview at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) field office. Reports have documented several instances, particularly concentrated around the San Diego office, where individuals married to U.S. citizens were taken into custody in front of their partners and young children. These families had entered the legal process, believing their status as spouses would protect them from prior minor violations.
