Canadian Woman Detained in U.S. During Green Card Interview

A Canadian woman has been detained by U.S. authorities during her green card interview for residing illegally in the country, according to reports from California-based KGTV.

Cynthia Olivera attended her green card interview on June 13 in California, while her husband, Francisco Olivera, waited outside. "We feel totally blindsided. I want my vote back," Francisco expressed to KGTV following Cynthia's detention.

Francisco is a U.S. citizen and identifies as a Trump supporter. The couple was drawn to the former president’s pledges to deport dangerous criminals but did not anticipate that Cynthia's lack of legal status would become an issue—KGTV found no criminal charges associated with Cynthia's name. “The U.S. is my country,” Cynthia stated from an immigration detention center in El Paso, Texas. “That’s where I met my husband, attended school, and had my children,” she added.

The 45-year-old was born in Canada and brought to the U.S. at the age of 10 by her parents. In 1999, when she was 19 years old, U.S. border officials discovered she was living without legal status and issued a deportation order against her.

After being removed from the country, Cynthia returned within months by driving from Mexico to San Diego without being questioned about her citizenship upon re-entry, as reported by The Guardian.