ICE Detains Diabetic Norwegian Woman at Green Card Interv...

By Andrew Stanton

Weekend Staff Writer

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained a diabetic woman whose status had expired during a meeting with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) this week, her husband told Newsweek.

Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a statement to Newsweek that Hanne Daguman was arrested after overstaying a student visa and that she will receive “full due process.”

Why It Matters

President Donald Trump campaigned on mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, specifically targeting those with violent criminal records, and his administration ramped up immigration enforcement since his return to office in January. However, his heightened immigration enforcement has drawn scrutiny from critics amid reports that individuals with no criminal records or nonviolent offenses are being targeted.

DHS said in September that more than two million undocumented immigrants have been deported since his inauguration

What to Know

Hanne Daguman, who is from Norway, met with USCIS in San Diego on Monday for an interview and was detained after allegedly acknowledging she had overstayed her visa, her husband, Joshua Daguman, told Newsweek.

She originally came to the U.S. on a student visa to study at California State University, San Marcos, where she earned a business degree. She completed a year of temporary employment authorization while working as a warehouse manager. However, her legal status then expired. The couple married in October 2024, and she has been working toward her green card, her husband said.

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She has no criminal record, he said.

She is being held at the Otay Mesa Detention Center, according to ICE records.

An ICE spokesperson said in a statement provided to Border Report following Hanne Daguman's detention: “[ICE] is committed to enforcing federal immigration laws through targeted operations that prioritize national security, public safety, and border security. 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 U.S. immigration law.”

He said he is concerned about her health while in detention, as she has type 1 diabetes. The facility's diet is allegedly “not conducive” to her health, as it includes foods that spike her insulin levels. She is now getting more insulin “after a lot of pressure," he said.

“They need to know the macros. They need to know the dose that they can do to balance her diet out,” he said.

They were set for a marriage interview with USCIS on Monday. After about an hour and a half of questioning, Hanne Daguman mentioned that she had overstayed her visa. Shortly after, she was apprehended by ICE agents who advised him to obtain an attorney.

Joshua Daguman said that while he understands why immigration agents are detaining criminals with arrest records, his wife’s case represents several cases of individuals without records being detained.

“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 that in recent days and weeks, individuals without criminal records who are simply overstays have been detained during their interviews with USCIS. He said he believes these arrests are being made to inflate ICE’s arrest numbers, and that most will receive a bond.

“These are very sad cases to see,” Nasseri said, noting that this is typically a “clean visa process.”

Cases like hers will also create an immigration backlog and lead to more crowded detention facilities, he said.

Nasseri is warning other clients to prepare to potentially be detained ahead of USCIS meetings, he said.

What People Are Saying

Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a 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 Patrol 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.”