Detained at airport, foreign college student Albornoz Hernandez was heading on vacation as ICE arrests her

Arrest at the airport

Her boyfriend, Anthony, told Berkeleyside they were waiting near their airport gate when an ICE agent in plain clothes approached. He said the agent guessed two names before identifying her on the third attempt.

Conflicting accounts of her status

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told KRON4 that Albornoz Hernandez entered the country on September 6, 2022, with permission to stay until March 6, 2023, and did not leave. The spokesperson said she would remain in ICE custody during removal proceedings and receive due process.

Detention and legal challenge

Albornoz Hernandez is being held at the California City Detention Facility in the eastern California desert. De Bremaeker criticized conditions there, and an American Civil Liberties Union report cited concerns about medical staffing, training, management and clinical oversight.

A petition filed Monday by Centro Legal de la Raza in U.S. District Court alleges her arrest violated the Constitution and federal law. It says she was not shown a warrant and was not found to be a flight risk.

University offers support

UC Berkeley Chancellor Richard Lyons told KRON4 that university leaders are working to support Albornoz Hernandez. He described her as a valued member of the community and said the university hopes she can return to Berkeley and continue her studies. Anthony told SFGATE that she had been moved around and said she was doing okay and seemed calmer than her supporters.