Louisville mother detained by ICE during final scheduled green card interview

Digital Media Manager

A Louisville woman’s final green card interview resulted in her being arrested and detained by ICE.

Armelle Bondonga was taken into ICE custody on Aug. 12 after she and her husband voluntarily appeared for an interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, her attorney Arianit Osmani said.

As for why she was detained? ICE said she “overstayed her welcome.”

Osmani says Bondonga came to the United States from the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a child with her family in 2013.

She is married to a U.S. citizen, and the couple is raising their young child together, who was born the U.S., her attorney said.

According to community leader Sadiqa Reynolds, the child is 19 months old, and Bondonga was arrested in front of her family.

“What should have been a joyful milestone — their final green card interview — turned into an absolute nightmare,” Reynolds wrote on social media.

Both Reynolds and Osmani said Bondonga has significant ties to the community, which she actively serves.

Osmani said her immigration history is complicated because, as a child, she was included as a derivative family member in asylum proceedings initiated by her father.

According to ICE, her visa expired in 2014 and “under the Obama administration began accruing more than a decade’s worth of unlawful presence in the United States.”

An ICE spokesperson said she was given final order of removal by an immigration judge last November.

But Osmani points out the circumstances have changed since Bondonga is now married to a U.S. citizen and has willingly showed up to scheduled USCIS interviews, including the latest.

“What is particularly significant is that Armelle was not attempting to evade immigration authorities,” Osmani said. “She voluntarily appeared with her husband for the scheduled USCIS interview to pursue her marriage-based immigration case through the lawful process. She complied with the government’s requirements, appeared for the interview as instructed, and was taken into ICE custody following that appearance.”

There are ongoing legal proceedings concerning that matter, which are being handled by separate immigration counsel.

Her lawyer said multiple immigration matters are now being pursued on her behalf and that her husband’s Form I-130 petition, the application to sponsor her for a green card, remains pending with USCIS.

He added that there are also other ongoing legal matters surrounding her prior immigration proceedings.

Osmani says he is coordinating with other attorneys and will continue advocating for Bondonga to make sure she receives due process.

She is being housed at the Clark County jail in Jeffersonville, Indiana.