A British woman detained by American immigration officials while holding her newborn baby has shared her distressing experience of having her son forcibly separated from her, haunting her with nightmares every night.
Katie Paul, aged 34, traveled to the United States in 2024 to join her husband, Stephen, who is originally from San Diego, California. They got married soon after her arrival, and as she awaited her green card processing, she decided to stay in the US due to her high-risk pregnancy, based on legal advice assuring her that overstaying her visa during the process would not pose a problem.
In November 2025, during Katie’s green card interview at the San Diego US Citizenship and Immigration Services office, she was unexpectedly arrested by ICE agents while holding her six-month-old son, Alan. Following her arrest, she spent five days in the Otay Mesa ICE Detention Centre before being released upon the approval of her green card application.
Recounting her ordeal, Katie, a stay-at-home mom from Beccles, Suffolk, expressed the ongoing trauma she faces, stating, “I have nightmares every single night. Each night, I will see those agents rip him from my arms while they cuff me. It is a constant reminder.”
Katie had moved to San Diego in September 2023 after a period of long-distance dating with her husband, and they got married after discovering they were expecting a child together. Due to her high-risk pregnancy, Katie chose to delay her return to the UK and sought legal guidance assuring her that her green card application process would proceed smoothly despite overstaying her visitor visa.
Despite a positive green card interview in July 2025 and subsequent approval in November, Katie was taken into custody by ICE agents, even as her green card status was confirmed. She described the distressing experience of being handcuffed and transported to the US-Mexican border before being released, highlighting the confusion and emotional turmoil she faced, especially after being granted legal status.
Katie’s ordeal sheds light on the complexities and challenges faced by individuals navigating the US immigration system, particularly in cases involving high-risk pregnancies and unforeseen legal complications.
