A mother from Britain was taken into custody by US immigration authorities during a Green Card interview, while holding her infant son and with her American husband present. The husband, Stephen Paul, expressed shock and distress as his wife, Katie, was detained by ICE agents at the San Diego immigration office. Despite being in the final stages of securing permanent residency and having no criminal record, Katie was arrested for overstaying her visa, a situation the couple believed would not be problematic during the Green Card process.
The couple’s initial plan was for Katie to return to the UK last fall and await reentry, but they altered their plans upon learning of her high-risk pregnancy. They decided to pursue the Green Card application while in the US based on advice from their immigration attorney, as they were legally married. Stephen recounted the heartbreaking moment when his wife was apprehended, leaving him to care for their crying baby alone.
Following the incident, Stephen struggled to obtain information about Katie’s whereabouts and well-being, finally managing to speak with her Thursday night. He described her as scared, anxious, missing their child, and yearning to return home. The emotional toll on Stephen was evident as he shared the challenges of caring for their baby without his wife’s presence and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Katie’s situation.
NBC News confirmed that Katie appeared in detainee locator records, further deepening the family’s distress.