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Man on valid visa arrested during asylum interview, separated from spouse and children

Jul 14, 2026·Location: Bakersfield, CA

Man on valid visa arrested during asylum interview, separated from spouse and children
Photo via San Francisco Chronicle

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.

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