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Fact check: An 82 year old man was taken by ICE at a green card replacement appointment.

Checked on July 21, 2025

1. Summary of the results

The statement is confirmed by multiple sources. Luis Leon, an 82-year-old grandfather from Pennsylvania, was indeed taken by ICE during a green card replacement appointment [1] [2]. The sources reveal that Leon was detained in Philadelphia and later found to be in a hospital in Guatemala after being secretly deported [1] [2]. This case occurred during the Trump administration's immigration enforcement period [2].

The analyses also reveal that this is not an isolated incident. Similar cases include a Marine Corps veteran's wife being detained during a routine green card appointment [3] and a father of two being unconstitutionally taken into federal custody during an immigration interview in 2018 [4]. Another case involved Reza Zavvar, a green card holder detained by ICE after 40 years in the US [5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement lacks several crucial pieces of context:

  • This represents a pattern of ICE enforcement practices, not an isolated incident. The sources document multiple cases of legal residents being detained during routine immigration appointments [3] [4] [5].
  • The broader immigration system crisis significantly impacts green card holders. Processing times for green card replacements have surged nearly 1,000 percent, creating a massive backlog [6] [7]. This delay puts migrants at risk of detention and deportation while waiting for document processing [7].
  • The political context matters. These detentions occurred as part of the Trump administration's "hard-line immigration agenda" [2], suggesting these actions were part of deliberate policy implementation rather than administrative errors.
  • Legal challenges exist. At least one case resulted in a court staying deportation, indicating that some of these detentions may be unconstitutional [4].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement, while factually accurate, presents incomplete information that could mislead readers about the scope and context of the issue:

  • It suggests this is an anomalous event when sources clearly indicate a pattern of similar detentions during routine immigration appointments [3] [4] [5].
  • It omits the systematic nature of these enforcement actions, which were part of broader immigration policy implementation [2].
  • It fails to mention the immigration system's processing delays that create vulnerabilities for legal residents seeking document replacement [8] [9].

The statement is not technically false but lacks the broader context that would help readers understand this as part of a larger pattern of immigration enforcement practices affecting legal residents.

Want to dive deeper?
What are the rights of green card holders during ICE encounters?
Can ICE detain green card holders for minor issues?
How many green card holders have been detained by ICE in 2025?
What is the process for reporting ICE misconduct during appointments?
Which ICE policies apply to elderly or vulnerable green card holders?