Green Card Applicant Arrested at U.S. Immigration Offices

• Colombian Student Arrested by ICE
• Immigration Appointment Ends in Detention
• He Was Seeking His Green Card

According to La Opinión, what was supposed to be a routine procedure ended in a federal detention. Esteban Danilo Quiroga-Chaparro, a 21-year-old Colombian, was arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during an immigration appointment in San Francisco.

The Chabot College student was attending a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) meeting to advance his application for permanent residency or a Green Card.

His partner, Jacob Ryan Rojas, reported that the arrest occurred without prior notice, even though Esteban had followed all legal steps in the immigration process.

Rojas said his husband was moved from one immigration office to another, where he was ultimately detained by ICE officers.

ICE Arrests Green Card Applicant Inside Immigration Office

1- Esteban Danilo Quiroga-Chaparro, a Colombian national & green card applicant, was detained by ICE at a U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) field office in San Francisco on October 22. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), pic.twitter.com/r3PnH6X0Fc

— Howard Prince (@Howodd69) October 31, 2025

According to Rojas’s testimony, the young man was called to a second USCIS office on Sansome Street, where he waited several hours before being summoned inside.

By tracking his partner’s phone, Rojas noticed a sudden change in location and realized something was wrong.

Upon entering the administrative area, he saw Esteban’s name listed among individuals under federal custody.

Shortly afterward, the young man was transferred to the Golden State Annex Detention Center, where he remains while awaiting his court hearing.

Official Statement on the Green Card Applicant Arrested by ICE

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that the arrest took place because the young man allegedly failed to attend prior immigration check-ins.

ICE spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the detention was carried out under a valid warrant and that the agency acted within legal bounds.

However, the detainee’s partner disputed that claim, insisting that Esteban had complied with all supervision requirements through Bi Smart Link, an application that randomly generates video calls to monitor participants.

Rojas believes his husband’s detention stems from a bureaucratic error and that ICE acted without properly reviewing his file.

The Young Man’s Story and His Asylum Process

Quiroga-Chaparro arrived in the United States on April 14, 2023, after fleeing Colombia due to homophobic persecution.

He sought political asylum after receiving threats for participating in a Pride event and was granted humanitarian parole upon demonstrating credible fear of returning home.

In California, he studied English at Chabot College and worked in digital design while preparing his permanent residency application.

His partner confirmed that Esteban had no criminal record or infractions and that his legal process was ongoing before the arrest.

Public Reaction and Next Legal Steps

In 2024, the couple filed Form I-130 to recognize their family relationship and planned to submit Form I-485 to adjust Esteban’s immigration status.

The case was transferred from the San Francisco court to Adelanto, California, where a new hearing is scheduled for November 4.

Rojas reported poor conditions inside the detention center, where over 100 people share a single area with limited access to showers and communication.

Immigrant advocacy groups and human rights organizations have called for Esteban’s release, stating that his case illustrates the vulnerability of asylum seekers and Green Card applicants arrested by ICE in the United States.