San Diego reports say applicants at a citizenship center were arrested during routine appointments, sparking concern among attorneys and migrant advocates.
Attorneys and migrant-rights advocates in San Diego say federal immigration officers have been arresting “out-of-status” immigrants inside a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) building, targeting people arriving for routine citizenship and visa appointments. The reports have raised fears of a growing enforcement tactic at a site traditionally viewed as a neutral processing center rather than an arrest point.
Concerns intensified this week after the detention of Hanne Daguman, a Norwegian national who was attending a USCIS appointment on Monday November 17, 2025, as part of her path toward U.S. citizenship. Her husband, Joshua Daguman, said she was taken into custody without warning.
“ICE agents just came in and arrested her,” he told local reporters, describing the moment as sudden and deeply distressing. The couple married in San Diego in 2024, more than a year after Hanne moved to California on a student visa. Joshua said she later obtained a work visa, which eventually expired, leaving her “out of status” under U.S. immigration law.
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Daguman was transported to the Otay Mesa Detention Center, where her husband fears she may not receive essential treatment for her diabetes. “It’s killing me knowing my wife is going to a detention center, maybe deported,” he said. “They gave us about two minutes to say goodbye.”
He described the arrest as feeling like “entrapment,” accusing immigration authorities of hiding in hallways and waiting for a signal before detaining applicants who believe they are simply attending administrative interviews. Joshua also claimed that others who arrived for appointments that morning never returned from inside the building.
Migration attorneys in San Diego say several similar arrests have taken place over the past week at the same USCIS facility. They warn that the practice could deter eligible applicants from pursuing legal status, out of fear that showing up for required appointments may lead to detention.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not comment directly on Daguman’s case but issued a general statement defending its operations. ICE said it “is committed to enforcing federal immigration laws through targeted operations that prioritize national security, public safety, and border security,” adding that individuals unlawfully present in the country “may face arrest, detention, and removal” even at federal sites such as USCIS offices.
Advocates say the reports highlight a growing climate of fear among immigrants navigating complex legal pathways. For families like the Dagumans, the consequences are immediate — and profoundly personal.
Africa Daily news, New York
