SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — Attorneys and migrant advocates in San Diego are concerned about a trend happening at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in downtown San Diego.
They tell Border Report that federal immigration officers are working inside the building arresting unsuspecting people who are showing up for citizenship and visa appointments.
It appears to have happened to Hanne Daguman, who had an appointment Monday morning to continue her path toward citizenship.
“ICE agents just came in and arrested her,” said her husband, Joshua Daguman.
He said Hanne came to California in 2022 from Norway, and the two were married a little more than a year ago in San Diego.
“She’d been here on a student visa, it expired and got a work visa, before that expired we got married,” Joshua said.
He said his wife was “out of status,” and that was the reason given for her apprehension.
“One moment you’re planning breakfast, next moment you’re planning an attorney,” he said. “It seems like entrapment, seems like they’re having you come in, something you think it’s not going to happen, but it’s the exact opposite.”
“One moment you’re planning breakfast, next moment you’re planning an attorney. …”
Joshua Daguman
Hanne was taken to the Otay Mesa Detention Center, and Joshua is worried she is not going to get the medication his wife needs for her diabetes.
“It’s killing me knowing my wife is going to a detention center, maybe deported. They said maybe they won’t deport her, but they were very stern about it — they gave us about two minutes to say goodbye and that was it.”
Joshua said they were aware of the ICE raids going on across the country, but they never expected this would happen to them.
“It’s like the last thing I thought would ever happen. It’s as if they’re hiding in offices waiting for a certain signal or a call then they come in and they arrest you,” he said. “Here I am thinking we’re going to have a life together forever and now she could never come back to the U.S. again.”
Joshua said he noticed others who had come in for their appointments also never left the building.
“They are tricking you by having ICE agents hiding in corridors,” he said. “It seems like they make a signal, show you a badge and arrest you.”
According to a migrant attorney who spoke with Border Report, this practice has been happening at the USCIS office in San Diego since last week with unsuspecting applicants showing up only to be detained.
An ICE spokesperson did not address Hanne Daguman’s arrest, however, they did issue the following statement: “(ICE) is committed to enforcing federal immigration laws through targeted operations that prioritize national security, public safety, and border security. Individuals unlawfully present in the United States, including those out of status at federal sites such as USCIS offices, may face arrest, detention, and removal in accordance with U.S. immigration law.”