A Marine Corps veteran in Las Vegas says what was supposed to be a routine U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services appointment turned into a nightmare on Wednesday, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents walked into the interview room and took his wife into custody. Patrick Baja says officers entered the USCIS office about five minutes into the meeting and led his wife, Diana Butnarchuk, away. The family says Butnarchuk, who came to the United States from Moldova and was granted asylum years ago, has been held at the Henderson Detention Center ever since, as reported by KTNV.
Detained During USCIS Interview
Baja told reporters that he and his wife checked in around 8:20 a.m., spoke with a USCIS officer for only a few minutes, and then ICE agents appeared and detained her, according to KTNV. The family says ICE was acting on a federal removal order they believed had been put on hold.
Family Says She Was On Track For Residency
Baja told KTNV that his wife entered the country from Moldova with political asylum, has worked at the Wynn for 11 years, and "has never had a criminal record." The couple says they walked into the appointment expecting a key step toward permanent residency and possibly citizenship, and were blindsided when agents removed her from the office instead.
Why Marriage May Not Stop A Removal Order
Immigration attorneys point out that marrying a U.S. citizen, including a military veteran, does not automatically erase an existing order of removal. The more common path, they say, is to file a motion to reopen with the immigration court, submit new and material evidence, and ask a judge to vacate the order. Those motions are tightly controlled by filing deadlines and are granted at the judge’s discretion, according to legal resources such as LegalClarity. Because of that procedural maze, lawyers often urge people not to handle such filings on their own.
Local Enforcement And The Henderson Jail
The case unfolds as local officials face growing criticism over Henderson’s agreement that allows federal agencies to house ICE detainees at the city’s jail, a deal that recently sparked tense public meetings as neighbors demand ICE jail deal be scrapped. The City of Henderson notes that the detention center houses federal detainees and provides visitation and legal access, a setup advocates say can make it easier for people to be moved suddenly into ICE custody.
What The Family Is Doing Now
Baja said he is hoping a judge will agree to reopen his wife’s case so she can continue her immigration process, and that friends and attorneys are scrambling to secure legal representation and pursue bond options, according to reporting that republished local coverage by The Times of India. Legal guides warn that seeking to reopen a removal case is legally complex, with strict timelines and technical requirements, and that experienced counsel is often critical to avoid missed deadlines or lost chances for relief, per FindLaw.
