Pro-Trump Green Card Holder Was Arrested by ICE After Over 30 Years in US

Sergey Kostenyuk, a green card holder who supports President Donald Trump's immigration policies, was detained by ICE for two months. Amanda Ng, an attorney at Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, who was representing Kostenyuk, told Newsweek in an email Friday that he was released on April 23.

Newsweek has reached out to Kostenyuk and his partner Mary Loisate via Facebook Messenger on Friday. Newsweek has also emailed ICE for comment on Friday.

Why It Matters

Kostenyuk's February arrest and subsequent two-months long detention came amid an immigration crackdown under the Trump administration, during which people with valid documentation—including green cards or visas—have been detained and face legal jeopardy.

President Donald Trump vowed to prevent illegal immigrants with criminal histories or backgrounds from entering and staying in the U.S. He has pledged to launch the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history and has detained and deported thousands of people in recent months.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) says that a green card holder has the right to live permanently in the U.S. provided they do not commit any actions that "would make you removable under immigration law." This includes breaking laws and not filing taxes.

Kostenyuk is a vocal supporter of President Trump, with his partner, Mary Loisate, telling local NPR affiliate KUOW that he owns numerous Trump flags and posters.

What To Know

Kostenyuk came to the United States over thirty years ago, telling KUOW he arrived as a child refugee from Ukraine. He has since held a green card making him a legal permanent resident.

The couple have two sons and live outside of Spokane, Washington, where they make and sell backyard sheds and chicken coops. In mid-February, some Facebook users had messaged and inquired about seeing sample coops.

However, when those individuals arrived, they turned out to be undercover ICE officials, Loisate told KUOW, and subsequently arrested Kostenyuk. Loisate is a U.S. citizen. Ng told Newsweek he was detained on February 15.

Loisate, who faults Trump and his immigration policies for Kostenyuk's two-month detention, says her partner was a Trump supporter, telling KUOW: "You should see his garage, there's nothing but Trump flags everywhere and posters everywhere. I took them all down out of the yard. I'm not happy about it at all."

She said he was specifically supportive of the president's immigration policies, saying "he's against people coming in illegally."

Kostenyuk was convicted in 2018 of two felony theft charges involving a stolen television and tools that he later pawned. He pleaded guilty, was ordered to pay restitution, served six days in jail and received three years of probation, according to KUOW.

Regarding the status of the convictions, Ng told Newsweek there was "no expungement." She said that "although some criminal convictions can have negative immigration consequences, criminal proceedings and civil immigration proceedings are separate."

Loisate described the difficulties of living and managing the family without Kostenyuk. He was held in detention at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington. Loisate expressed fears over if he was deported to Ukraine, a place his family left decades ago and is embroiled in a war with Russia.

Ng told Newsweek that Kostenyuk had four hearings related to his case, and was released on April 23.

What People Are Saying

Amanda Ng, an attorney with Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, said about the case: "The bigger picture here is that, with these new arrest quotas, it's kind of indiscriminate. I think Sergey was fortunate to get out, but there are many people who are still in detention and shouldn't be."

Michael Mehr, an attorney for Cliona Ward, a green card holder who was detained for two weeks, told Newsweek on Thursday: "This is an example of the overreach of the new Trump deportation plan which sweeps up even lawful permanent residents like Cliona Ward. She was not a danger to anyone. She was, in fact, the primary care-giver for her chronically ill son and a long time and valued employee at a Christian conference center. She had resided in the U.S. since she was 12 years old...The only thing Trump's administration did with this escapade was to tarnish our image abroad and at home."

Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin previously told Newsweek: "The Trump administration is enforcing immigration laws—something the previous administration failed to do. Those who violate these laws will be processed, detained and removed as required."

What Happens Next

There have been several incidents of green card holders being released from detention, including Cliona Ward, who was released on Wednesday after two weeks in ICE detention.

Many have raised concerns about the Trump administration's detention and deportation practices, saying the process often lacks due process protections for individuals. Supporters say the crackdown is necessary to deter illegal immigration and remove criminals.

Update 5/15/25, 9:48 a.m. ET: Additional information was added.

Update 5/9/25, 12:15 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with Ng's comments.