ICE Detains UC Berkeley Student and Asylum Seeker at San Francisco Airport, Prompting Legal Challenge and University Support
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained Paula Valentina Albornoz Hernandez, a 23-year-old UC Berkeley student and asylum seeker, at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) while she was waiting to board a flight. Albornoz Hernandez, who arrived in the U.S. from Colombia in 2022, had overstayed her visa but had a pending asylum application based on experiencing severe gender-based violence in her home country, along with a valid work permit. She is currently held at ICE’s California City Detention Center. Attorneys from Centro Legal de la Raza have filed a habeas corpus petition challenging her detention, arguing that ICE officers did not present a warrant and failed to assess if she was a flight risk. UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons has also written a letter of support, requesting her release to resume her studies. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed her detention, stating she did not depart after her visa expired and will receive due process.
