Man on valid visa arrested during asylum interview, separated from spouse and children
Jul 14, 2026·Location: Bakersfield, CA

A man who entered the U.S. on a valid visa and had complied with immigration appointments for seven years was arrested in the middle of his asylum interview. He faced transfer to a detention center near Bakersfield, separated from his American spouse and U.S.-born children. Attorney Elizabeth Knowles from the Bay Area Habeas Network filed an emergency habeas petition after midnight, and a federal judge ordered his immediate release within five hours.
Sources
- ICE took her from her children. Here’s how lawyers raced to free her
San Francisco Chronicle·Jul 13, 2026·archived copy
- On June 15th, I filed an emergency habeas corpus petition in federal district court on behalf of a man arrested by ICE at his own USCIS asylum interview — a man who entered the US on a valid visa… | Elizabeth Knowles
linkedin.com·Jun 30, 2026·archived copy
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