Arpine Misakyan was arrested after surveillance reportedly showed her slap her husband at the Wynn buffet on April 6. While in custody she was taken to University Medical Center for high blood pressure and breathing trouble, where ICE agents detained her despite a pending asylum claim. Clark County prosecutors later dismissed the domestic-battery charge, but Misakyan spent roughly three months in immigration custody and accepted voluntary departure, leaving the U.S. on July 4.
Woman Detained by ICE at Hospital After Slap at Las Vegas Buffet Spent About Three Months in Immigration Custody
Image Credit: 8 News Now / YouTube.
A Southern California woman’s family vacation to Las Vegas ended with months of separation after an April 6 argument at a Strip buffet escalated into an arrest and an immigration detention.
What Happened
Hotel security at the Encore detained 33-year-old Arpine Misakyan after surveillance footage reportedly showed her slap her husband during a dispute at the Wynn buffet. Two Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers responded and arrested Misakyan on a charge of battery constituting domestic violence.
Medical Evaluation and ICE Detention
While officers were preparing to remove Misakyan from the property, she complained of high blood pressure and difficulty breathing. Police took her to University Medical Center (UMC) for evaluation and treatment. According to reporting by 8 News Now, agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrived at the hospital and placed Misakyan into immigration custody.
Criminal Case Dismissed; Immigration Case Continued
Clark County prosecutors later dismissed the local domestic-battery charge related to the Wynn encounter, meaning the incident did not result in a local conviction. That dismissal did not resolve Misakyan’s immigration case: she reportedly spent roughly three months in ICE detention and ultimately accepted voluntary departure, leaving the United States on July 4.
ICE Statement: According to local reporting, ICE characterized Misakyan as unlawfully present despite a pending asylum case and said her departure was recorded as voluntary departure rather than removal.
Additional Details And Reactions
Body-camera footage and surveillance reviewed by 8 News Now show security had handcuffed Misakyan and placed her in a holding room before police arrived. Family members remained nearby as officers explained that she was in custody; her husband reportedly made several attempts to have her released.
LVMPD shared its detention procedures with the station, which state that ICE should be notified when certain foreign-born individuals are arrested for offenses that include domestic violence. Wynn declined to comment and referred questions to Metro.
Why This Matters
The case highlights how local criminal arrests can intersect with federal immigration enforcement, especially when foreign-born individuals are medically evaluated at hospitals or have pending immigration matters. It also underscores the difference between voluntary departure and formal removal by immigration authorities.
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