Newlywed Couple Torn Apart Outside Court as Husband Detained by ICE Moments After Asylum Hearing

Dreams Shattered in a Moment

In a deeply emotional turn of events, a young East Bay couple’s newlywed bliss was shattered outside the San Francisco Immigration Court when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers detained the husband moments after an asylum hearing. What was supposed to be a routine legal step toward building a future together became a scene of heartbreak and separation.

Shaylyn, the American wife, described the incident with raw emotion, saying, “Imagine being in the honeymoon phase, planning your life with the person you love, only to have them taken away without warning.” That’s exactly what unfolded on May 23, when her husband, Anyelo, was unexpectedly handcuffed and taken away by ICE.

A Law-Abiding Asylum Seeker

Anyelo had arrived in the U.S. earlier in 2024 from Colombia, seeking asylum. According to Shaylyn, he had no criminal record—neither in the U.S. nor in his home country—and had followed every legal requirement, attending check-ins and court hearings faithfully.

The couple believed they were nearing the end of the asylum process. But at the May 23 hearing, Shaylyn claims that a government attorney abruptly requested the case be dismissed. Then, as they stepped into the hallway outside the courtroom, ICE agents appeared.

“Before we could even speak about what had just happened in the courtroom, ICE was there,” Shaylyn said. “They didn’t give us time. They didn’t give us answers. I heard the handcuffs click as they took him away from me.”

Transferred Far from Home

Without further explanation, ICE transported Anyelo to an immigration detention facility located nearly five hours away. Shaylyn now fears for her husband’s wellbeing and says he is being treated like a criminal despite having followed every rule laid before him.

She has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for legal support, hoping to secure skilled immigration attorneys who can help fight for her husband’s release and prevent his deportation.

Enforcement Surge Raises Concerns

This incident is not isolated. Reports have surfaced that ICE has intensified enforcement actions at immigration courts across the country. In May alone, multiple migrants were detained at the San Francisco Immigration Court, according to witnesses and justice advocates.

Elsewhere in the Bay Area, ICE operations have also been reported. On May 28, ICE officers were seen conducting an enforcement sweep in South San Jose, targeting individuals with final deportation orders who had not complied.

Voices of Dissent and Concern

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan weighed in, expressing concern over the broader focus of these actions. “I continue to call on the federal government to prioritize removing serious and violent criminals, not those who are contributing positively to our communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, a senior Department of Homeland Security official reiterated the agency’s position: that expedited removal is lawful and necessary for those who entered the country illegally in recent years. ICE has also reminded undocumented immigrants that its website contains a “self deportation” section, urging those without legal status to leave voluntarily before facing arrest.

A Human Story in the Midst of Policy

For Shaylyn and Anyelo, this is not just about immigration enforcement—it’s about love, trust, and the pain of being separated under a legal system that often feels impersonal and rigid. As their story gains attention, it becomes a powerful example of how broader policies can impact real people in deeply personal ways.

“I’m not giving up,” Shaylyn wrote. “We followed every rule. We believed in the system. Now, I just want my husband home.”

As their legal battle continues, their story serves as a poignant reminder of the complex human emotions behind immigration headlines—where love, fear, and hope collide on the steps of justice.