Jessica Mendoza

Well, I'm glad you at least have friends while you're there. Yes.

Ksenia and her friends are waiting to plead their cases for asylum before an immigration judge. And Ksenia is not allowed to leave detention while waiting for a court date. The policy is part of the Trump administration's harsher stance on asylum seekers and an expanded definition of who can be detained.

Ksenia and her friends are waiting to plead their cases for asylum before an immigration judge. And Ksenia is not allowed to leave detention while waiting for a court date. The policy is part of the Trump administration's harsher stance on asylum seekers and an expanded definition of who can be detained.

Ksenia and her friends are waiting to plead their cases for asylum before an immigration judge. And Ksenia is not allowed to leave detention while waiting for a court date. The policy is part of the Trump administration's harsher stance on asylum seekers and an expanded definition of who can be detained.

But unlike her other friends in the Louisiana detention center, Ksenia already had a visa, and her visa was revoked over the dispute at customs. Michelle says many cases like Ksenia's are now popping up across the country.

But unlike her other friends in the Louisiana detention center, Ksenia already had a visa, and her visa was revoked over the dispute at customs. Michelle says many cases like Ksenia's are now popping up across the country.

But unlike her other friends in the Louisiana detention center, Ksenia already had a visa, and her visa was revoked over the dispute at customs. Michelle says many cases like Ksenia's are now popping up across the country.

Have you talked to other folks on work visas or any other kind of sort of temporary visa?

Have you talked to other folks on work visas or any other kind of sort of temporary visa?

Have you talked to other folks on work visas or any other kind of sort of temporary visa?

Like, yeah, what are they saying? How do they feel when they hear about cases like Ksenia's?

Like, yeah, what are they saying? How do they feel when they hear about cases like Ksenia's?

Like, yeah, what are they saying? How do they feel when they hear about cases like Ksenia's?

But for asylum seekers, leaving can be really complicated. Because Ksenia is afraid to go back to her home country, she has to see her asylum case through, a process that's likely to take a very long time. And while she waits, she's stuck in detention. Today, after two months in ICE custody, Ksenia had her first appearance before an immigration judge.

But for asylum seekers, leaving can be really complicated. Because Ksenia is afraid to go back to her home country, she has to see her asylum case through, a process that's likely to take a very long time. And while she waits, she's stuck in detention. Today, after two months in ICE custody, Ksenia had her first appearance before an immigration judge.

But for asylum seekers, leaving can be really complicated. Because Ksenia is afraid to go back to her home country, she has to see her asylum case through, a process that's likely to take a very long time. And while she waits, she's stuck in detention. Today, after two months in ICE custody, Ksenia had her first appearance before an immigration judge.

So you said she's awaiting the results of her asylum case. What are sort of the hypotheticals there, the outcomes?

So you said she's awaiting the results of her asylum case. What are sort of the hypotheticals there, the outcomes?

So you said she's awaiting the results of her asylum case. What are sort of the hypotheticals there, the outcomes?

In other words, she could get deported while her asylum case moves through the courts. So Ksenia's fighting to be released on parole, which could protect her from deportation until her case is decided. In a post on X, an assistant secretary at DHS said that Ksenia broke the law and was lawfully detained. She added, quote, we should know who and what is in our country.