Cynthia Olivera, a 45-year-old Canadian-born mother of three American children, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last month during what was supposed to be a routine green card interview in Chatsworth, California.
Olivera and her husband, Francisco — a U.S. citizen and self-described Trump supporter — had previously backed former President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdowns. Now, they say they’ve been caught off guard by the system they once endorsed.
“We feel totally blindsided,” Francisco told KGTV. “I want my vote back.”
Who Is Cynthia Olivera?
Born in Mississauga, Ontario, Olivera moved to the U.S. at age 10 and has spent over 35 years living in Los Angeles, where she attended public schools. She married Francisco in the 1990s, and together they raised three children — all born in the United States.
Though she was undocumented for years, Olivera obtained a temporary work permit in 2024 under a Biden-era policy, paid taxes, and maintained a clean record. With her children now adults, she decided in 2023 to pursue legal permanent residency through her marriage.
That process culminated in a green card interview on June 13, 2025 — which ended in her arrest.
The 1999 Deportation Order
According to Department of Homeland Security officials, Olivera had a prior deportation order from 1999. That year, after traveling to Canada for her mother’s funeral, she was denied re-entry into the U.S. at the Buffalo border. She had reportedly disclosed to officials that she was pregnant and planned to give birth in the U.S. — triggering an expedited removal due to her prior undocumented status.
She later re-entered the country through San Diego without authorization — a move ICE now considers a felony.
How the Arrest Unfolded
Olivera arrived for her green card interview expecting a step forward toward legal status. Instead, she was approached by a security guard who flagged her presence, and ICE agents were called in. While her husband waited outside, Olivera was quietly detained. The interviewing officer never returned, and Francisco said he received no communication until hours later.
She was later transported to an ICE detention facility in El Paso, Texas.
ICE Response
In a statement, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the arrest, saying:
“ICE arrested Cynthia Ivanna Olivera, an illegal alien from Canada, who was previously deported and chose to ignore our law.”
The case has sparked outrage among immigration advocates and debate online — especially given the family’s previous support for Trump-era immigration policies, including mass deportations.
Now, Francisco Olivera says he’s rethinking everything: “She’s lived here almost her whole life. She’s an American in every way but on paper. This shouldn’t have happened.”
