ICE has repeatedly said these arrests, which began Nov. 12, are for overstaying visas.

If they are applying for a green card, they have (had?) a valid visa. Things may have changed since I had to deal with this system, but it's pretty straightforward. You get a fiance (or spousal) visa, bring the person over, and then you have so many days (it was 90, I think) to get married and file the next step of paperwork. As long as you're doing that, you're legal. The next step is conditional permanent resident. We had to go down and file an extension (they didn't have a website in those days, so we had to stand in line for hours downtown) for 1poorlady because BCIS was backed-up (not our fault), and they extended her conditional resident status and working authorization. It was approved shortly after, and she became a permanent resident. Five years later, apply for naturalization.

If someone let their visa/paperwork lapse, then it's really their own fault. I don't agree with the gestapo's behavior, but it's not that difficult to keep yourself legal until you have that naturalization certificate in your hand. Especially when you can do most of it online now.

This conduct really is capricious, serving no real value. I thought they were supposed to be going after the "bad dudes".