U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained a Norwegian woman with type 1 diabetes during an appointment with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) this week, according to her husband.
In a statement to Newsweek, Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Hanne Daguman was arrested for overstaying a student visa and will receive “full due process.”
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump returned to office in January after campaigning on mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, emphasizing a focus on people with violent criminal histories. Since taking office, his administration has stepped up immigration enforcement. Critics, however, say the crackdown has expanded to include people without criminal records or those accused of nonviolent immigration violations.
The Department of Homeland Security said in September that more than two million undocumented immigrants have been deported since Trump’s inauguration.
What to Know
Joshua Daguman told Newsweek that his wife went to a USCIS office in San Diego on Monday for an interview connected to her green card process. He said she was detained after acknowledging she had overstayed her visa.
Hanne Daguman originally entered the U.S. on a student visa and studied at California State University, San Marcos, earning a business degree. After graduation, she completed a year of temporary employment authorization and worked as a warehouse manager, her husband said. Once that authorization ended, her legal status expired.
The couple married in October 2024 and had been working through the marriage-based green card process. Joshua Daguman said his wife has no criminal record.
ICE records list her as being held at Otay Mesa Detention Center.
An ICE spokesperson told Border Report that the agency enforces immigration law through targeted operations that prioritize national security, public safety, and border security, adding that people who are unlawfully present — including those “out of status” at federal sites such as USCIS offices — may be arrested, detained, and placed in removal proceedings under U.S. law.
Joshua Daguman said he is worried about his wife’s health in detention because of her diabetes. He described the facility’s meals as unsuitable for her condition, saying they can cause dangerous spikes in blood sugar. He added that she has only recently been given increased insulin “after a lot of pressure.”
“They need to know the macros. They need to know the dose that they can do to balance her diet out,” he said.
He said their USCIS interview lasted about an hour and a half. After Hanne mentioned her visa overstay, he says ICE agents entered, detained her, and advised him to get a lawyer.
Joshua Daguman said he understands enforcement efforts aimed at people with serious criminal records, but believes his wife’s case shows that people without records are increasingly being swept up.
“They’re detaining a really good person that really helps the community and is really involved,” he said. “The outreach has been incredible.”
Hanne’s attorney, Saman Nasseri, told Newsweek he has recently seen multiple cases where people with no criminal record — particularly visa overstays — are detained at USCIS interviews. Nasseri said he suspects such arrests are aimed at boosting ICE’s statistics and expects many detainees will ultimately be eligible for bond.
“These are very sad cases to see,” Nasseri said, adding that marriage-based interviews are typically a “clean visa process.”
He also warned that these arrests could contribute to growing backlogs in immigration courts and more crowded detention centers. Nasseri said he is now advising clients to prepare for the possibility of detention when attending USCIS appointments.
What People Are Saying
McLaughlin said in her statement to Newsweek: “On November 17, ICE arrested Hanne Daguman, an illegal alien from Norway who overstayed her student visa. She has been placed in removal proceedings and has a court hearing scheduled for November 24, 2025. She will receive full due process.
“Illegal aliens can take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $1,000 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right, legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.”
A Customs and Border Protection spokesperson previously told Newsweek: “A green card is a privilege, not a right, and under our nation’s laws, our government has the authority to revoke a green card if our laws are broken and abused. Lawful Permanent Residents presenting at a U.S. port of entry with previous criminal convictions may be subject to mandatory detention and/or may be asked to provide additional documentation to be set up for an immigration hearing.”
What Happens Next
Hanne Daguman is scheduled to appear in immigration court on Monday, November 24, according to her husband.
