Kenyan Man Detained by ICE During Green Card Interview in San Francisco, Later Released
A family in Oakland faced sudden separation when Peter, a Kenyan man who came to the U.S. on a student visa, was detained by ICE during his Green Card interview in San Francisco in November 2025. Despite his wife Alexandra,…
San Francisco Oakland San Jose, CA, August 14, 2026 —
A distressing five-month separation has concluded for a Kenyan family in Oakland after Peter, who entered the United States on a student visa, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in November 2025. The detention occurred during Peter’s Green Card interview in San Francisco, an event that led to his unexpected arrest and transfer to a detention facility in the Mojave Desert.
Peter’s wife, Alexandra, a U.S. citizen, had initiated the process for his Green Card petition. However, the interview took a turn when ICE officers detained him. The subsequent five months of separation reportedly had a significant impact on the couple’s infant son.
The situation began to shift when a judge ultimately ruled Peter’s arrest to be unlawful. Following this legal determination, Peter was released from the detention center. Shortly after his release, he successfully received his Green Card, allowing him to reunite with his family in Oakland.
The family is now in a period of recovery, working to heal from the traumatic experience of the sudden detention and prolonged separation.
Story summarized from the original created by Barbaraleonard on ww2.kqed.org, see more information here.
Media gallery
