💔 “They Took Her Away Right in Front of Me”: UC Berkeley Student, 23, Detained by ICE Moments Before Vacation With Boyfriend — University Fights for Her Release

Paula Valentina Albornoz Hernandez had spent years building a new life in California. The 23-year-old Colombian student was studying business administration at UC Berkeley, conducting research in artificial intelligence and working toward a future she had fought hard to achieve. On Friday evening, she arrived at San Francisco International Airport with her boyfriend, excited about a weekend getaway to Oregon. But before they could board their flight, a plainclothes federal agent approached them. Within minutes, their vacation was over, Paula was separated from her boyfriend, and she was taken into immigration custody. Now, her university, lawyers and fellow students are demanding answers.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA — November 6, 2026 — A 23-year-old University of California, Berkeley student remains in federal immigration detention after being arrested at San Francisco International Airport while preparing to board a domestic flight with her boyfriend.

Paula Valentina Albornoz Hernandez, a Colombian asylum seeker studying business administration, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Friday, October 30.

She and her boyfriend were waiting to board a flight to Portland, Oregon, for a weekend vacation when federal agents approached her near the departure gate.

According to her boyfriend, Anthony, the encounter began when a man in plain clothes approached the couple and said Paula looked familiar.

The man began guessing names.

After Paula confirmed her identity, additional agents intervened, separated the couple and informed her that she was being detained because her visa had expired.

Her boyfriend described the experience as frightening and overwhelming.

The arrest has sparked concern across the UC Berkeley community, where students and university leaders are supporting efforts to secure her release.

Her attorneys have challenged the detention in federal court, arguing that immigration authorities violated her constitutional rights.

The Department of Homeland Security disputes that characterization and maintains that Paula remained in the United States beyond her authorized period of admission.

As of November 6, she remains at the California City Detention Facility while her legal case continues.

A Weekend Vacation That Never Began

The couple had planned a short trip to Oregon.

Anthony, who asked reporters to identify him only by his first name, said he wanted to give his girlfriend a break from the pressures of university life.

Paula had been working hard on her studies.

She was balancing a demanding academic schedule with research and other responsibilities.

Anthony believed she deserved time away before her upcoming examinations.

Their destination was Portland, where they planned to explore the region and visit waterfalls.

The trip was meant to be an opportunity to relax together.

On Friday, October 30, the couple arrived early at San Francisco International Airport.

They passed through the airport and reached their departure gate.

They were waiting for their flight when the situation suddenly changed.

According to Anthony, a plainclothes agent approached Paula and initiated a conversation.

The man said she looked familiar.

He then began asking about her identity.

At first, she reportedly denied the names he suggested.

But when he eventually stated her correct name, she confirmed it.

That moment marked the beginning of a confrontation that would end with her detention.

“There Was Nothing I Could Do”

Anthony recalled that once Paula confirmed her identity, agents moved to separate them.

According to his account, the officers explained that Paula had overstayed her visa.

They informed her that she was being taken into immigration custody.

The couple had expected to board an airplane together.

Instead, Anthony watched as federal agents led his girlfriend away.

He told Berkeleyside that the experience was frightening because he felt powerless to intervene.

The sudden separation left him shocked.

Paula had not been preparing to leave the United States.

She was taking a domestic flight between California and Oregon.

Anthony believed they were simply beginning a short vacation.

Within minutes, however, the situation had become a federal immigration enforcement action.

The couple’s plans were abandoned.

And Paula began a journey through several detention facilities.

Lawyers Dispute How ICE Agents Approached Her

The circumstances of the arrest have become a central part of the legal dispute.

According to Paula’s attorney, Nikolas De Bremaeker of Centro Legal de la Raza, the agents approached her in plain clothes.

He alleges that they did not initially identify themselves as immigration officers or federal law enforcement personnel.

Anthony’s account similarly describes an agent who began by asking questions about Paula’s identity.

The Department of Homeland Security has disputed the claim that its agents failed to identify themselves properly.

A DHS spokesperson said officers identify themselves as law enforcement in accordance with agency policy.

The competing accounts have not been resolved through a final court ruling.

Paula’s legal team has also questioned whether federal agents had sufficient grounds to detain her without a warrant.

Attorneys have filed a habeas corpus petition challenging the legality of her detention and requesting her release.

The court will need to evaluate those arguments under the applicable immigration and constitutional laws.

Who Is Paula Valentina Albornoz Hernandez?

Paula arrived in the United States from Colombia in September 2022.

According to her attorney, she came to the country after experiencing serious gender-based violence in her homeland.

She subsequently applied for asylum.

Her application remains pending.

Although her original period of authorized admission expired, she obtained a valid work permit while pursuing her immigration case.

She also continued her education.

Paula first attended San Jose City College before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley.

At Berkeley, she enrolled in business administration and pursued academic research involving artificial intelligence.

Her attorney described her as a dedicated student who had worked hard to establish herself.

According to De Bremaeker, she has no known criminal record.

Reporting by Berkeleyside also found no criminal history in the local and federal court records it examined.

Her supporters emphasize that she was studying, working toward her degree and participating actively in university life when she was detained.

For Paula, the arrest has placed those ambitions in jeopardy.

Why Immigration Authorities Detained Her

The Department of Homeland Security has offered a different account of the legal significance of Paula’s immigration history.

According to a DHS spokesperson, she entered the United States on September 6, 2022.

Her permission to remain in the country was valid until March 6, 2023.

The agency said she did not depart when that period expired.

DHS maintains that the expiration of her authorized stay provides a basis for immigration enforcement.

The department also emphasized that a pending asylum application or valid employment authorization does not automatically grant lawful immigration status.

In its public response, DHS stated that Paula would receive due process and remain in custody while removal proceedings continued.

The legal disagreement centers on whether her detention was authorized and whether she should remain in custody while her immigration case proceeds.

Her attorney argues that the arrest was unlawful and unconstitutional.

DHS maintains that its agents were carrying out immigration enforcement.

The dispute remains unresolved.

From the Airport to a Remote Detention Center

Following her arrest, Paula was transported through multiple immigration detention facilities.

According to her attorney and boyfriend, she initially spent time at a facility in Stockton, California.

Anthony said she was subsequently moved between facilities, including one in Sacramento, before being transferred to California City.

The California City Detention Facility is located in a remote desert area northeast of Los Angeles.

Her attorneys have expressed serious concern about conditions there.

The facility has previously attracted scrutiny over medical care and detention practices.

A court-ordered investigation earlier in 2026 identified significant problems involving healthcare services.

Those findings have added to concerns from Paula’s legal representatives.

De Bremaeker described the detention center in strongly critical terms and questioned whether people held there receive adequate care.

According to reporting from local news outlets, Paula has experienced emotional distress during her detention.

Her boyfriend has said that she has tried to remain calm despite the uncertainty.

However, the continuing detention has disrupted her education and separated her from loved ones.

UC Berkeley Chancellor Calls Her an Outstanding Student

The arrest prompted a response from UC Berkeley Chancellor Richard K. Lyons.

In a message to the university community, Lyons confirmed that a student had been detained at San Francisco International Airport.

He described the student as a valued member of the campus community.

The university began coordinating with legal representatives, relatives and organizations supporting her case.

Lyons later wrote a letter to federal immigration authorities urging them to allow Paula to resume her education.

He praised her academic dedication and achievements.

The chancellor also expressed concern that continued detention could interfere with the progress she had worked hard to make.

University officials acknowledged the urgency of the situation while noting that privacy rules limited the information they could publicly disclose.

The administration’s response reflected growing concern about how immigration enforcement can affect international students and other noncitizens pursuing higher education.

For Paula, the support from her university has become an important part of the effort to challenge her detention.

Students Gather to Demand Her Release

The detention has also prompted demonstrations on the Berkeley campus.

On Wednesday, November 4, students and community members gathered to protest Paula’s arrest.

Participants expressed concern about the treatment of a fellow student who had been pursuing her education while awaiting a decision on her asylum application.

They called for her release and for greater protection of students affected by immigration enforcement.

The incident has generated discussion about the circumstances under which immigration agents may detain students traveling domestically.

It has also raised questions about the relationship between federal immigration enforcement and university communities.

Supporters argue that Paula should be allowed to continue attending classes while her legal proceedings unfold.

Federal authorities maintain that her immigration status makes her subject to enforcement.

The public disagreement reflects broader legal and policy debates over asylum, detention and enforcement priorities.

Her Attorneys Turn to Federal Court

Paula’s legal team has filed a habeas corpus petition seeking her release.

A habeas corpus petition allows a person in custody to challenge the legal basis for their detention.

Her attorneys argue that immigration agents lacked appropriate justification for taking her into custody.

They also contend that the government has not shown that she represents a danger to the community or a risk of failing to appear for legal proceedings.

The filing asks the court to examine whether her detention complies with federal law and constitutional protections.

The legal team has emphasized that she was known to immigration authorities through her asylum application.

She had also received employment authorization.

According to her attorney, those circumstances make the detention particularly troubling.

However, DHS has rejected the suggestion that the pending application or work permit automatically protects her from immigration enforcement.

The court will have to consider the competing arguments.

As of November 6, there has been no confirmed final ruling ordering her release.

A Pending Asylum Application Does Not Automatically Prevent Detention

The case has highlighted an important distinction in U.S. immigration law.

A person may have a pending asylum application and be authorized to work while still facing questions concerning their immigration status.

Employment authorization provides permission to work under specified conditions.

It does not necessarily establish lawful immigration status or guarantee protection from removal proceedings.

Similarly, submitting an asylum application does not always prevent immigration authorities from detaining an applicant.

The legality of a particular detention depends on the person’s circumstances, the relevant statutes and constitutional requirements.

Those details are central to Paula’s case.

Her attorneys argue that the government exceeded its legal authority.

DHS says she remained in the country beyond her authorized admission period and is subject to enforcement.

The legal proceedings will determine whether the detention can continue.

Domestic Travel Becomes a Source of Concern

Paula’s arrest has attracted additional attention because it occurred during an ordinary domestic trip.

She and her boyfriend were not attempting to enter or leave the United States.

They were traveling from San Francisco to Portland.

For many people, flying between two American cities is a routine activity.

But immigration enforcement at airports has become an increasing concern for some noncitizens.

Attorneys and advocacy organizations say travelers with unresolved immigration cases should understand the potential consequences before flying.

Immigration authorities have stepped up enforcement at transportation hubs, including airports.

Supporters of such operations argue that federal agencies have the responsibility to enforce immigration laws.

Critics question how enforcement is conducted and whether detention decisions adequately account for pending legal applications, community ties and individual circumstances.

Paula’s case has become a prominent example of those competing concerns.

A Young Woman’s Future Put on Hold

Before October 30, Paula was focused on her studies.

She was attending one of California’s most prominent public universities.

She was pursuing a business administration degree.

And she was involved in research related to artificial intelligence.

Her boyfriend had planned a vacation to give her a short break from academic pressures.

Now, she is detained hundreds of miles from campus.

Her classes and examinations have been disrupted.

Her attorneys are fighting for her release.

And her university is asking federal officials to allow her to resume her education.

The situation has created uncertainty about the immediate future.

Her pending asylum application remains unresolved.

Her detention is being challenged.

And the outcome of her legal proceedings has not yet been determined.

A Vacation Interrupted, a Legal Battle Begins

On Friday, October 30, Paula Valentina Albornoz Hernandez arrived at San Francisco International Airport expecting to spend a weekend with her boyfriend in Oregon.

She was 23 years old.

She was studying at UC Berkeley.

And she was looking forward to a brief escape from her demanding academic schedule.

Instead, federal immigration agents approached her at the departure gate.

After confirming her identity, they took her into custody.

Her boyfriend watched as their plans disappeared.

Since then, Paula has been transferred through immigration facilities and remains detained in California City.

Her lawyers have filed a federal petition challenging the arrest.

UC Berkeley officials have appealed for her release.

And fellow students have gathered to support her.

What was supposed to be a weekend vacation has become a legal battle that could affect Paula’s education, immigration case and future in the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security says the detention is based on her expired authorized stay.

Her attorneys insist the arrest was unlawful and that she should be permitted to continue her studies while her asylum application proceeds.

For now, the court has not publicly resolved the dispute.

Paula was supposed to be exploring Oregon’s waterfalls with her boyfriend. Instead, she is sitting in a federal detention facility while the people closest to her fight to bring her back to campus.

Her future remains uncertain.

But her case has already become a significant point of discussion about immigration enforcement, student rights and the legal protections available to people seeking asylum in the United States.