Woman Arrested by ICE at FLL Airport for Overstaying Visa

Visa Overstay and Detention

• 📌 A woman from the Bahamas, Lar Smith, was arrested by ICE agents at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
• ⚠️ She and her husband, James Wen, had overstayed their visas for over a decade after coming from the Bahamas seeking a better life.
• 🛂 The arrest occurred after she went through TSA, and authorities determined she was an overstay, despite having no criminal record.

Deportation and Legal Status

• ✈️ Smith was initially taken to a county jail and then moved to a detention facility in Baker County, 5 hours away.
• ⚖️ Under current law, individuals who overstay their visas are considered to be in the country illegally and are subject to deportation.
• 📄 The couple claims they have tried to obtain legal status, but it was not processed in time, leading to confusion and difficulty.

Husband's Efforts and Future Concerns

• 💔 Smith's partner, James Wen, expressed distress over the situation and is focused on hiring an attorney to get Lar Smith out of jail.
• 🏠 Wen stated that they were homeless in the Bahamas before coming to the U.S. and that he has spent considerable money trying to secure legal status.
• 🌎 Lar Smith has been in the U.S. since she was 8 years old and considers this country her home.