A routine green card interview at a San Diego immigration office turned into a harrowing encounter for one local family, raising fresh concerns about U.S. immigration enforcement tactics. A San Diego mother says she was handcuffed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents while holding her baby, an experience she describes as “traumatizing” for both herself and her children. Her account, shared with NBC 7 San Diego, is now drawing scrutiny from advocates and legal experts, who argue the incident highlights the fear and uncertainty many immigrant families face even when they are following official procedures.
Inside the green card interview that led to a sudden ICE arrest in San Diego
What began as a routine appointment at the federal building in downtown San Diego quickly shifted into a scene of confusion and fear. Seated in a quiet, fluorescent-lit room, the young mother cradled her baby while an officer reviewed a thick stack of documents: birth certificates, marriage records, tax returns. The atmosphere felt familiar to anyone who has gone through an immigration benefit interview-brief pleasantries, standard questions about how the couple met, where they live, who helps care for the child. But midway through the conversation, the tone reportedly hardened. Officers stepped out, returned with additional personnel, and the questions turned sharply toward past entries, prior orders and alleged immigration violations. Moments later, she says, the same room that symbolized the path to lawful residency became the stage for her unexpected detention.
Witnesses described a rapid escalation: the mother asked to stand, her ID taken, and the door subtly repositioned to block any easy exit. According to the family, no advance warning was given that immigration enforcement agents would be present. Instead, agents appeared after the interview portion seemed complete, focusing less on marital bona fides and more on removal logistics. Key points the family recounted include:
- Location: A USCIS office where applicants normally seek immigration benefits
- Timing: Detention initiated immediately after interview questioning
- Presence of child: Mother was holding her infant when handcuffs were produced
- Communication: Family alleges little explanation about what would happen next
| Event | What Family Says Happened |
|---|---|
| Arrival | Couple checks in with baby, expecting standard green card interview |
| Questioning | Routine marital questions, then abrupt shift to immigration history |
| Transition | Additional officers enter, door repositioned, tension rises |
| Arrest | Mother detained while holding infant, family left stunned in interview room |
How a mother’s account of being detained while holding her baby exposes gaps in immigration procedures
The mother’s description of being handcuffed in front of her infant during what was supposed to be a routine path to lawful status highlights how enforcement and family unity often collide inside immigration offices. According to her account, there were no clear explanations, no visible efforts to de-escalate the situation in front of the child, and no guidance about what would happen to the baby once she was taken into custody. This kind of scenario underscores how existing procedures prioritize enforcement timelines over trauma-informed practices, leaving families to navigate a system that can shift from administrative to punitive in a matter of minutes. Advocates say the episode illustrates how bureaucratic silos between U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Immigration and Customs Enforcement can transform a scheduled interview into an unexpected arrest, with little transparency for those involved.
Her experience also calls attention to the absence of standardized protections for caregivers in sensitive situations, such as when they are holding or supervising young children. Policy memos label certain places as “sensitive locations,” yet families report inconsistent application of those standards in practice. In this case, the lack of a child-centered protocol exposed systemic gaps: there were no visible child-welfare liaisons, no clear written notice of rights, and no immediate access to legal counsel. Immigration lawyers argue that episodes like this are not isolated, but symptoms of a broader system in which discretion varies widely by office, agent and day, creating a patchwork of outcomes for families in nearly identical circumstances.
- No clear guidance for parents about what to expect at status interviews
- No uniform protocol when children are present during enforcement actions
- Limited transparency on coordination between USCIS and ICE
- High emotional impact on infants and young children witnessing arrests
| Issue | Current Reality | Impact on Families |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | Minimal explanation at point of arrest | Confusion and panic |
| Child Safety | No dedicated child-welfare protocol | Emotional distress for children |
| Agency Coordination | Fragmented between USCIS and ICE | Unpredictable interview outcomes |
| Legal Access | Limited counsel at critical moments | Weakened due-process protections |
Legal experts weigh in on due process concerns and what families should know before USCIS appointments
Attorneys watching the San Diego case say it exposes a growing clash between immigration enforcement and the constitutional promise of due process. While USCIS offices are designed to handle benefits – not arrests – lawyers warn that coordination with ICE can turn routine appointments into high‑risk encounters, especially for families with outstanding removal orders or prior immigration violations. Legal experts argue that without clear, public guidelines on when enforcement can occur, families are left unable to make informed choices about appearing, undermining the fairness of the system and chilling participation in lawful immigration processes.
Advocates urge families to approach every interview with the same preparation they would bring to a courtroom visit. That includes consulting an attorney in advance, understanding their record, and planning for emergencies if a parent is detained. Key recommendations include:
- Review your immigration history with a qualified lawyer before any USCIS appointment.
- Bring a signed power of attorney so someone can make decisions for your children if needed.
- Avoid sharing inconsistent information between USCIS, ICE, and prior applications.
- Prepare emergency contact lists and childcare plans in case a parent does not return home.
| Risk Factor | Why It Matters | What Families Can Do |
|---|---|---|
| Prior removal order | Can trigger immediate detention | Confirm status; discuss reopening options |
| Criminal record | Raises enforcement priority | Obtain court records; seek legal review |
| Inconsistent filings | May be viewed as fraud or misrepresentation | Bring copies of all prior applications |
| No legal counsel | Limited ability to assert rights | Consult an attorney or legal clinic early |
Policy recommendations advocates say could prevent future traumatic arrests during routine immigration checks
Immigrant rights groups are urging federal agencies to adopt clearer guardrails on how and when enforcement is allowed during benefits appointments, arguing that routine checks should never escalate into scenes that resemble a raid. They are pushing for nationwide standards that would bar arrests in settings considered “sensitive,” such as USCIS field offices, unless there is an immediate public-safety threat. Advocates say these standards must be written into policy, publicly posted in multiple languages, and backed by transparent oversight tools so families know what to expect when they walk into a government building.
Policy experts are also calling for tighter interagency coordination and trauma-informed training for officers who interact with families in immigration spaces. They propose:
- Advance notice rules when enforcement actions are contemplated at or near benefits appointments.
- Mandatory trauma-informed training for ICE and USCIS staff dealing with children and caregivers.
- Independent monitoring of arrests carried out in or adjacent to federal offices.
- Clear complaint pathways for families who believe their rights were violated.
| Proposal | Goal |
|---|---|
| No-arrest zones at interviews | Protect families from surprise detentions |
| Public reporting of on-site arrests | Increase transparency and accountability |
| Child-safety protocols | Limit exposure of minors to traumatic scenes |
The Conclusion
The incident has renewed calls from immigrant rights advocates for clearer guidelines on enforcement actions at U.S. immigration offices, particularly when families and young children are involved. As the San Diego mother and her legal team prepare for a prolonged legal battle, her account underscores the growing tension between stepped-up immigration enforcement and the government’s stated commitment to safeguarding due process and family unity.
NBC 7 has reached out to ICE and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for additional comment on the arrest and the policies governing such operations. The case is expected to draw continued scrutiny from both legal experts and community organizations as it moves forward.
