ICE Detains Mexican Man During Final Green Card Interview

ICE Detains Mexican Man at Immigration Appointment

Residency Process Interrupted

ICE Initiates Immediate Deportation

A young Mexican man identified as Jair was detained by ICE agents in Salt Lake City while attending an interview considered the final step before receiving his permanent resident card.

The case was disclosed by immigration attorney Andy Armstrong of the law firm Stowell & Crayk, who confirmed that Jair is his client.

Fox News identified the young man as Jair Celis and his wife as Lexi.

ICE Detains Mexican Man During Immigration Appointment

The young man of Mexican origin believed that, after an 18-month process, he was in the final stage of finally obtaining his green card. However, instead of being interviewed, ICE agents were waiting to arrest him. This is what is known. https://t.co/aI1QZpAnvR pic.twitter.com/YSYdjVKQAx

— Univision 23 Miami (@Univision23) December 10, 2025

According to statements cited by ABC, Armstrong explained that the ICE detention occurred last week inside the facilities of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Salt Lake City.

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Jair arrived in the country with a valid visa as a teenager and remained longer than permitted, according to Univision.

According to his attorney, the Mexican man who is currently detained by ICE has been married for five years to a U.S. citizen.

They are the parents of a 4-year-old child born in Salt Lake City.

Armstrong noted that, due to Jair’s legal entry into the country and his marriage to a U.S. citizen, immigration laws allow him to apply for permanent residency.

The process can take anywhere from five months to several years. The young man had been in the process for 18 months.

The interview he had scheduled is usually considered the final step before obtaining a green card, making the ICE detention during green card interview especially unusual.

ICE Initiates Deportation Process

A Utah man detained by ICE agents during his final green card interview is now the subject of serious allegations that his attorney denies. https://t.co/GcEbfCZz3e

— LEX 18 News (@LEX18News) December 10, 2025

Upon arriving at the appointment, Jair was not interviewed but instead detained by ICE agents.

Authorities immediately initiated deportation proceedings.

Armstrong stated that this is the first time he has seen a case like this in Salt Lake City.

He emphasized that the young man has no criminal record or any factor in his history that would disqualify him from the residency process.

In Immigration Detention in Arizona

The attorney confirmed that, after being detained by ICE, Jair was transferred to an immigration detention center in Arizona.

He is currently awaiting possible release on bond.

His potential release is linked to the fact that he entered the country legally with a visa.

At this time, he continues in ICE detention and has not been assigned a court date.

His immigration future will depend on the progress of his case and the decisions made during the deportation process.