MS-13 Member Arrested at USCIS Green Card Appointment
A self-confessed MS-13 gang member walked into a USCIS office on Long Island to apply for a green card — and walked out in handcuffs. USCIS had already flagged him as a threat and alerted ICE before he arrived. His arrest raises urgent questions for thousands of immigrants with pending SIJ applications.
A 24-year-old man from El Salvador was arrested at a USCIS office on Long Island on May 8, 2026, while trying to apply for a green card. Jose Calles Henriquez, who has admitted to being a member of the MS-13 gang, showed up to a scheduled appointment — and was taken into custody by ICE agents waiting for him.
How USCIS Flagged Him Before the Appointment
USCIS officers identified Calles Henriquez as a gang member through their screening process. They alerted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division of ICE that handles transnational crime. He was applying under the Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) program — a legal path created by Congress in 1990 for young undocumented immigrants who a juvenile court has found cannot safely return to one or both parents due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. By law, the SIJ program has no criminal bars and does not require applicants to show good moral character.
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According to court documents, Calles Henriquez entered the US illegally in 2013 by crossing the Rio Grande on a raft near Hidalgo, Texas. Border Patrol issued him a notice to appear before an immigration judge at that time. He is now in ICE custody and has been placed in removal proceedings — the formal legal process that can lead to deportation.
What This Means for the SIJ Program
USCIS released a report last year warning about fraud and national security risks in the SIJ program. USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler said the agency will use all available resources to detect people who pose a public safety threat. This arrest signals that USCIS is now actively screening SIJ applicants for gang ties and other security concerns — and may share that information with ICE before or during appointments.
What to Do
- If you have a pending SIJ petition or green card application (Form I-485, the application for a green card from inside the US), talk to an immigration lawyer before your next USCIS appointment — especially if you have any criminal history or past immigration violations.
- If you are in removal proceedings (the formal court process that can lead to deportation), do not miss any immigration court hearings. Missing a hearing can result in an automatic deportation order.
- If ICE arrests you or a family member, you have the right to remain silent and the right to speak with a lawyer. Do not sign any documents without legal advice.
- If you believe your SIJ case is legitimate, gather all court documents, legal records, and evidence of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. A lawyer can help you present the strongest possible case.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
This arrest confirms that USCIS is now treating appointments as potential enforcement opportunities, not just administrative meetings. If you have a pending SIJ petition or any other green card application and have prior contact with law enforcement — even arrests without convictions — you should consult an immigration attorney before attending any USCIS appointment. An attorney can assess whether your application raises red flags under current screening standards and help you prepare or, in some cases, advise you on whether to proceed at all.