Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs: Foreign Spouses of U.S. Citizens Arrested During Final Residency Step

According to families present, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested multiple applicants, accusing them of prior visa violations that could now result in deportation, despite their ongoing legal marriage-based residency process.

A Day of Celebration Becomes a Day of Arrests

Among those affected was Stephen Paul, who arrived with his British wife and their 4-month-old baby.

“I had to take our baby from my crying wife’s arms,” he said, describing the moment agents informed them that his wife, Katie, was being detained.

Similar scenes played out for Audrey Hestmark and her German husband—who were just days away from their first wedding anniversary—and Jason Cordero, who accompanied his Mexican wife, expecting to finalize her permanent residency.

The couples say they believed they were nearing the end of a long administrative journey. The marriage-based green card interview is typically the final step before an immigrant spouse is granted a lawful permanent resident card.

Agents Cite Visa Violations

ICE officials have reportedly justified the arrests by pointing to past overstays or visa compliance issues—violations that in many previous administrations were often waived or overlooked during family-based immigration processing.

Immigration advocates argue that the arrests reflect a growing trend of enforcement during routine administrative appointments, leaving families in fear and uncertainty. Critics say the tactic contradicts long-standing norms where good-faith applicants were allowed to adjust their status without risk of detention.

Families Left Traumatized

For many spouses, the sudden separation has been devastating. Children were left crying, and American partners were forced to leave federal buildings alone—some with infants in their arms, unsure of when or if their loved ones would be released.

Immigration attorneys in the region say they are preparing emergency filings to prevent deportations and demand due process.

“This process is meant to bring families together, not tear them apart,” one attorney said, calling for clearer guidelines and greater transparency in enforcement actions.

A Broader National Issue

Reports of similar arrests have emerged across the country, raising questions about the balance between immigration enforcement and family unity. Advocates warn that such actions could discourage legally married couples from seeking status adjustments at all, for fear of being detained.

For now, the families in San Diego are left waiting—hoping that the system meant to protect their right to stay together does not ultimately drive them apart.