TikTok Creator Says ICE Detained Her During Green Card Interview — Raises Questions About Enforcement at USCIS Offices

A TikTok creator who identifies herself as Mila posted a video on Jan. 14, 2026, saying U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents handcuffed and detained her during a green card interview at the San Diego U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office. The video has been viewed more than 614,000 times and stirred debate about whether and how immigration enforcement can occur at USCIS appointments.

What Mila Says Happened

Mila says she arrived at the San Diego USCIS office at 8 a.m. with her U.S. citizen husband and an attorney. She says she has lived in the United States since she was 4 and has been working to resolve her immigration status since her teens. According to her account, the interview proceeded normally: she was asked about how she and her husband met and details surrounding their marriage.

Near the end of the appointment, Mila says the USCIS officer told the couple the evidence was strong and that the officer was approving their Form I-130 petition — the family petition a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident files for a qualifying relative. She says the officer then apologized and indicated there were people waiting outside to speak with her.

"What happened when ICE arrested me at my green card interview," the video overlay reads. In the clip, Mila also quotes an agent who reportedly told her, "I know you're not a criminal — I'm just following orders."

Mila recounted that agents allowed her to hand personal items to her husband and say goodbye before she was led away. She says she was handcuffed, fitted with ankle restraints and transported to a federal building where she remained for roughly 24 hours. She also stated she saw a list of names on a bulletin board and believes the arrest may have been planned in advance. Mila says she was later released and that the warrant involved was administrative; she also says she has no criminal record, no prior removal notices and no ongoing deportation proceedings.

TikTok users discuss ICE's alleged actions.

USCIS and ICE Guidance

USCIS notes that approval of an I-130 petition does not determine whether an applicant is admissible to the United States. Approval allows a beneficiary to pursue lawful permanent residence if they meet other eligibility requirements; it does not equate to receiving a green card or confer immunity from immigration enforcement. ICE retains authority to detain individuals if there is probable cause to believe they are removable, and the agency follows its own enforcement procedures.

Public Reaction and Verification

Viewers on TikTok were split. Some expressed alarm that someone attending a legal appointment with an attorney could be detained, while others cautioned that filing for a green card does not erase past immigration violations or pending administrative issues — a distinction that likely shaped differing reactions.

What We Know—and What We Don’t

The Daily Dot was unable to independently verify Mila’s account, the nature of the warrant she described, or the specific reasons for her arrest and release. The details above reflect the narrative posted on TikTok by @milathekilla; independent confirmation from USCIS or ICE was not available at the time of reporting.

Why this matters: The account highlights tensions between immigration adjudication and enforcement and underscores that petition approval is not synonymous with legal protection from removal.