kpbs Federal immigration officials released a Ukrainian immigrant from detention Tuesday after arresting her last week immediately following a green card interview in downtown San Diego. Viktoriia Bulavina arrived in the U.S. three years ago under a humanitarian program for people fleeing the war in Ukraine. She is married to a U.S. citizen and is currently in the final stages of applying to be a permanent resident. In an interview with KPBS Wednesday, Bulavina said ICE officers held her for three days beginning last Thursday inside the lower levels of a federal building downtown. She said she and other women had to use an open toilet in view of the guards and didn’t have room to sleep. One person, she said, had her migraine medication taken away. Bulavina said the detainees were given expired sandwiches and had to huddle together for warmth. When they were moved, she said ICE officers ordered them to line up against the wall and restrained their hands and feet with shackles and chains. Bulavina’s husband Victor Korol, who translated for her during the interview, called the conditions there “absolutely atrocious.” “I would like to have answers,” Korol said. “I would like to have people to assume responsibility for what happened and be punished.” Korol and Bulavina’s attorney began pushing for her release on Thursday, and KPBS and other news outlets reported on her detention. ICE released her Tuesday morning. The agency did not respond to questions and a request for comment Wednesday. Read the rest of the story at kpbs.org 📝 @korisuzukiphoto 📷Carlos Castillo View all 55 comments