Chicago-area woman arrested by federal agents at green card interview may be deported imminently

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Airida Gould, originally from Lithuania, recounted one of the worst stops she made after she was transferred from the Broadview U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility to another in Brazil, Indiana.

"I think people taking care better for their cats and dogs. That bad, that place definitely probably has to be closed," Gould said. She spoke to the I-Team on a video call with her immigration attorney and husband, saying conditions were so vile she couldn't elaborate further. Now she's spent two months in ICE custody in Kentucky in a cell with 13 other women, where she says things have improved.

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"This place is really very clean. That's where they're focusing the most. The food, you know, we never get any fresh foods, never. I'm longer than two months now with zero fresh foods," Gould told the I-Team. "We go to gym to get fresh air. One hour, three times per week, so, three hours per week I get fresh air."

Her American husband, Mark, an Army veteran, and their two boys are separated by more than 300 miles.

"In the morning when I wake up, you know, the biggest apprehension I have now is I wait for your text. First text is like when I get my relief," Mark Gould said on a recent video call with him and his wife.

They're only able to communicate by text or a rare inmate video call. Gould became emotional as she talked about a reunion, knowing she could be deported at any time.

"So that day will come. I know it's coming soon. And it doesn't matter what. We're going to be together, and everything will be just perfect, beautiful," Gould said.

SEE ALSO: Chicago-area father of Air Force airman detained by ICE after immigration status interview: attorney

Gould had a prior order of removal from nearly 17 years ago and was arrested by ICE at a green card interview in May after advice from her first immigration attorney. She said she was taken away without a chance to say goodbye.

"They told me, they said, 'ma'am, we have to be honest with you. What's going right now we never had before. This is what new administration does.' That clearly was said to me. And they said, 'we are so sorry; we have to do our job,'" Gould said.

She's now represented by former Chicago immigration court Judge Carla Espinoza, who is working to stop her deportation.

"Now that she's detained, ICE can enforce that removal order. So, it's a battle against time," Espinoza told the I-Team.

Gould has a pending case before the Board of Immigration Appeals but could be deported before her case is heard.

"ICE has the power to take away that avenue for relief by removing her. So, that's what makes it difficult," Espinoza said.

Gould's husband says he is holding out hope.

"You're living with this like constant void and pit in your stomach. You know, that's you, just, it doesn't go away, just dealing with heartache on a daily basis."

Gould is in a women's annex in Kentucky, where she says there is adequate medical care. However, her attorney told the I-Team not all detention centers are created equal. She says many are deficient because of the influx in population with the Trump administration's push for immigration arrests.