U.S. Immigration Officials Detain Applicants at Green Card Interviews, Causing Fear and UncertaintyU.S. immigration officials are now detaining individuals during green card interviews, turning a previously safe final step into a surprise arrest for some. This is particularly impacting marriage-based applicants, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents appearing at Citizenship and Immigration Services offices in recent weeks. Even when petitions are approved on the spot, some individuals are taken into custody immediately.For instance, a man in San Diego who entered the U.S. legally as a child and overstayed his visa after marrying a U.S. citizen was told his case was perfect and approved during his interview, but was later arrested by ICE. Similarly, a woman in Cleveland who has lived in the U.S. for twenty-five years was held during her interview due to an old removal order from her parents missing a court date years ago.Immigration attorneys report that clients are terrified, with many skipping interviews or even filing for status altogether. One lawyer noted that people feel like theyre walking into a trap, pushing them away from the legal path.Officials defend the policy, stating that the Trump administration made it clear: break immigration laws like overstaying a visa, and face deportation. This represents a significant shift from before, when spouses of citizens saw these interviews as low-risk due to carve-outs in the law for immediate relatives.As these detentions increase, advocates worry that it will further clog the system and leave families in limbo, forcing more to stay in the shadows instead of seeking legal residency.

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