Trump‑Voting Immigrant Detained During Green Card Interview Sparks Backlash

 

Cynthia Olivera, a Canadian-born woman who has lived in the United States for 35 years, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during her green card interview on June 13, 2025. The incident occurred in Chatsworth, California, and has drawn national attention due to Olivera’s strong support for Donald Trump and his immigration policies.

Olivera, 45, entered the U.S. at age 10 and has spent most of her life in the country. Her husband, a U.S. citizen and fellow Trump supporter, expressed shock over the detention, stating, “We feel totally blindsided,” and even went as far as to say, “I want my vote back.” The couple had previously supported Trump’s promise to deport undocumented immigrants, believing it would primarily target violent offenders.

However, Olivera became a casualty of those same policies. Though living without legal status is typically a civil offense, the Trump administration has taken a hardline stance, treating all undocumented immigrants as criminal offenders eligible for deportation.

Olivera’s immigration history complicates the case. In 1999, when she was 19, U.S. immigration officials at the Buffalo border issued an expedited deportation order after determining she was living in the country unlawfully. Despite that, Olivera returned months later by crossing from Mexico into San Diego without being stopped. In 2024, under President Joe Biden’s administration, she was granted a work permit, and had been pursuing permanent residency through legal channels.

Olivera is also a mother of three U.S.-born children. Her detention has caused her family to reevaluate their political views and question the policies they once supported. The case has ignited debate over the reach and fairness of current immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.

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