British mum detained by ICE agents in California as six-month old baby and stunned husband watch on
Katie Paul, 33, was in the process of applying for a green card when she was ambushed by immigration agents
A British mother who arrived at a routine green card appointment in America was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement as her husband and six-month-old baby watched on in horror.
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Katie Paul, 33, had turned up to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services office in San Diego, California, to finalise the paperwork required to secure her permanent residency.
Instead, she was slapped in cuffs by ICE agents who detained her on the spot during a raid before being taken into federal custody.
The Brit was reportedly left stunned as she was taken away from her shocked American husband and newborn baby.
Confirming her detention, ICE said in a statement: “Individuals unlawfully present in the United States, including those out of status at federal sites such as USCIS offices, may face arrest, detention, and removal in accordance with US immigration law.”
Ms Paul has reportedly admitted that she had overstayed her visa but insisted she was told by her immigration lawyer officials this is commonly forgiven when filing for a spousal green card.
Read more: Trump orders Oregon National Guard under Federal control to protect ICE facilities
She currently still in a detention centre but has been allowed to FaceTime her mum, who hopes her daughter will be released in time for Thanksgiving.
A GoFundMe has since been set up by a friend of the couple, Kate Hastings, to help cover the legal fees needed to fight for Ms Paul’s release.
A post on the page reads: “The Paul family is now dealing with urgent legal fees to fight for Katie’s release and the costs of childcare while Stephen tries to manage everything on his own.
“The emotional and financial strain is overwhelming, and they need support from their community to get through this.
“Every dollar raised will go directly toward legal representation to ensure their family is able to be reunited, as well as helping Stephen care for their baby while he and Katie continue working through the nebulous state of their residency.”
Ms Paul is not the only Brit who has been detained by ICE in recent months amid US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration.
Sami Hamdi, who is Muslim and lives in London, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers at San Francisco International Airport in California on October 26 after he travelled to the US for a speaking tour.
Mr Trump’s crackdown has also seen foreign students and green card holders who have voiced support for Palestinians and criticised Israel's actions in Gaza deported.
ICE has been heavily criticised in the past year, accused of arresting both legal migrants and US citizens and targeting people based on their race.
Anger at ICE agents has grown after they were accused of using "extreme brutality” on demonstrators, deploying smoke grenades, tear gas and pepper balls on anti-ICE protesters in cities such as Chicago.