The sister of a UC Berkeley student arrested by ICE at San Francisco International Airport spoke out Wednesday, NBC Bay Area reported. Paula Albornoz, 23, an asylum seeker from Colombia, was detained Friday as she was about to board a flight to Portland.
"The person asked if she was Paula and Paula said yes, and that was the moment when the ICE agent pulled out a badge," said her sister, Nicole Albornoz. She said Paula told her detainees must wear handcuffs even at medical appointments.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest. "She entered the country on September 6, 2022 with legal permission to stay until March 6, 2023. In defiance of our nation's laws, she did not depart," DHS said. "She will receive due process and remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings." KTVU reported that ICE also pushed back on claims that the officer did not identify himself.
Attorney Nikolas De Bremaeker said she filed her asylum application before the deadline, cleared her biometrics appointments and received a work permit. A habeas petition and a request for a temporary restraining order have been filed in federal court. She is held at the California City Detention Center in Kern County.
Albornoz moved to the South Bay four years ago, graduated with honors from San Jose City College and studies business administration at UC Berkeley, according to NBC Bay Area.