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Diabetic permanent resident held eight days by CBP at San Francisco airport

A 67-year-old green card holder who has lived in the U.S. about 50 years was held eight days at San Francisco's airport, then months more in detention, despite diabetes and other health problems.

Sep 1, 2026San Francisco, CACountry of origin: Mexico

Diabetic permanent resident held eight days by CBP at San Francisco airport
Photo via Instagram

A 67-year-old lawful permanent resident who has lived legally in the U.S. for about 50 years was held for eight days by CBP at San Francisco International Airport in March 2026 after returning from a trip to Guadalajara, Mexico, and landing in Fresno. He told the San Francisco Chronicle that agents removed him from his flight and transported him in handcuffs to San Francisco, where he says he slept sitting in a chair under lights kept on and struggled to manage his blood sugar despite having diabetes, hypertension and vision problems. He was later transferred to an ICE detention facility for several months before his attorneys secured his release. An investigation found 25 people were held more than 72 hours at SFO through July, 19 of whom were green card holders, making it the second-highest U.S. airport for such extended holds after Miami among more than 400 cases nationwide; Senator Alex Padilla subsequently visited the 3,000-square-foot CBP holding area at SFO to examine the conditions.

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