Paula Albornoz Hernandez, a 23-year-old student at the University of California, Berkeley, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at San Francisco International Airport on Friday, October 30. The student, who is from Colombia and has no criminal record, was preparing to depart for a hiking vacation in Portland with her boyfriend when officers approached her at the airport.
Nikolas De Bremaeker, the managing attorney for the Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership, described the arrest as unlawful and unconstitutional. He stated that an ICE agent sat next to Albornoz Hernandez and began a conversation without identifying himself. The agent asked for her name, and after she confirmed it, he showed his badge and detained her.
Her boyfriend, Anthony, recalled the emotional moment of her detention. He described feeling helpless as agents intervened and said his partner grabbed his face to tell him it was not his fault. He expressed sadness and anger at being separated from her while she remained in custody.
According to Department of Homeland Security records, Albornoz Hernandez entered the United States in September 2022 and was authorized to remain until March 2023. A DHS spokesperson noted that she did not depart after that date and would receive due process while in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. However, her attorney argued that she had followed all legal requirements of her asylum process, including filing applications on time and attending biometrics appointments to secure a work permit.
The student is currently being held at the California City Detention Center in Kern County, which the American Civil Liberties Union identifies as California’s largest immigration detention facility. De Bremaeker has filed a habeas petition and a temporary restraining order against ICE in federal court. He also called on Congress to investigate the case and pass a private bill to grant her permanent status.
San Francisco International Airport officials stated they were not notified of the incident and do not assist in immigration enforcement. On Monday, UC Berkeley Chancellor Richard Lyons sent a campus-wide message declaring the student a valued member of the community. He said the university had mobilized legal support and was working with her family to ensure she could return to her studies.
On Wednesday, friends and classmates gathered on the UC Berkeley campus for a demonstration demanding her release. They described her as a dedicated business administration major who often puts others first. Juliette Diaz Rackohn, the chief communications officer for Associated Students of the University of California, stated that this appears to be the first ICE detention of an active UC Berkeley student since the current administration began mass deportations.
Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii issued a statement urging federal authorities to release Albornoz Hernandez so she can continue her education while her case proceeds. Ishii emphasized that Berkeley is a sanctuary city and that detaining a student creates fear among immigrant families. She stressed the city's commitment to standing with its immigrant neighbors.
De Bremaeker highlighted the student's academic achievements, noting she graduated with honors from San Jose City College before being admitted to a competitive program at UC Berkeley. He described her as an exceptional volunteer and community member who should be celebrated rather than detained in what he called inhumane conditions.
