The Aporia · Girlfriend detained by ICE after OPT denial: Redditor says she had no criminal record, no prior removal order

A Redditor reported that his Mexican girlfriend was detained by ICE in Atlanta after her Optional Practical Training (OPT) application was denied due to an apparent date error. Despite having no criminal record and being within a 60-day grace period provided following the denial, she was arrested based on an outstanding warrant. The Redditor seeks advice from others who have experienced similar situations involving ICE detention during pending appeals for OPT denials.

Written by AI on 2026-09-18, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

A Redditor reported that his girlfriend, who held a valid F-1 visa in the United States and applied for Optional Practical Training (OPT), was detained by ICE in Atlanta after her OPT application was denied due to what appears to be a date-related error. The denial came with a 60-day grace period, which would not have expired until October but was ignored when ICE agents approached her with an arrest warrant at a public place.

Despite having no criminal record and no prior removal order, the girlfriend was questioned by ICE about staying in the U.S. after her OPT application was denied. An immigration attorney filed a motion challenging this decision while she remained in custody pending further review. Her school informed her that her grace period had started following the denial, but ICE detained her before it expired.

The Redditor is currently seeking an immigration lawyer to handle his girlfriend's case and is reaching out for support from anyone who has experienced similar detention by ICE during the appeal process of their OPT application.

Written for “ICE Detention After OPT Denial” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 ICE Detention After OPT Denial

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The Redditor said the OPT application was denied because of an apparent error with dates, against which an appeal has already been filed, and she was given a 60-day grace period that would not have expired until October.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-18

🔮 The Redditor said the OPT application was denied because of an apparent error with dates, against which an appeal has already been filed, and she was given a 60-day grace period that would not have expired until October.

2026-09-18 · Times of India

Girlfriend detained by ICE after OPT denial: Redditor says she had no criminal record, no prior removal order · assertive framing

A Redditor claimed that his girlfriend, who was in the US on a valid F-1 visa, was detained by ICE in Atlanta after her OPT application was denied. asserted

application → claim → Atlanta

that → say → October

"ICE agents approached her in a public place with an arrest warrant. asserted

agents → approach → warrant

From what I've heard, they questioned why she was still in the U.S. after her OPT denial. asserted

she → hear → denial

She has no criminal record and, to my knowledge, no prior removal order," the Redditor said. asserted

Redditor → have → knowledge

"Her school informed her that her grace period had started following the denial. asserted

period → inform → denial

An immigration attorney subsequently filed a motion challenging the decision, but ICE detained her while the motion was still pending," the post said detailing the case " asserted

post → file → case

She is currently in custody, and we have not yet confirmed whether a removal order exists. asserted

order → confirm → custody

I'm currently working on hiring an immigration attorney to handle her detention, but I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced a similar situation. asserted

who → work → situation

Has anyone experienced ICE detention while an OPT motion was pending?" the Redditor asked. asserted

Redditor → experience → detention

The nationality of the girlfriend was revealed to be Mexican. asserted

nationality → reveal → girlfriend

What happens after an OPT denial? asserted

What → happen → denial

An OPT denial does not automatically mean that the student has to leave the US that same day. asserted

student → mean → US

The key issue is what happens to the student's underlying F-1 status and whether the student is still within an applicable grace period. asserted

student → happen → period

Under the F-1 rules, students generally receive up to 60 days after completing their course of study and authorized practical training to prepare for departure or take other steps to maintain status. asserted

students → receive → status

USCIS also recognizes this 60-day period in its guidance on unlawful presence. asserted

USCIS → recognize → presence

It says that when OPT is withdrawn or denied, the OPT authorization ends and the 60-day grace period runs from the date of the withdrawal or denial. asserted

period → say → withdrawal

The guidance says the student must either leave the US when that grace period expires or take other steps to maintain status. asserted

period → say → status

Many social media users commented that the grace period is discretionary and can be revoked. asserted

period → comment → ?

"USCIS status decisions and ICE enforcement don't always move in sync. asserted

decisions → move → sync

Grace period status isn't always reflected in real-time in the databases ICE checks, and having a pending motion to reopen/reconsider doesn't automatically stop enforcement action. asserted

having → reflect → action

'No criminal record' doesn't help much here. asserted

record → help → ?

If there's no final order, an immigration judge may be able to set bond. uncertain

judge → be → bond

This is usually the fastest way to get someone out of physical detention while the case proceeds," one suggested. uncertain

one → get → detention

Why the case matters to international students asserted

case → matter → students

Though there is no verified information about this particular case, the Reddit post t comes at a particularly sensitive time for international students in the US. asserted

post → be → US

OPT is one of the main routes through which F-1 graduates obtain temporary work authorization after completing their studies. asserted

graduates → obtain → studies

The administration is cracking down on OPT abuse and many students may get OPT denied. uncertain

OPT → crack → abuse

Girlfriend detained by ICE after OPT denial: Redditor says she had no criminal record, no prior removal order

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