Beata Siemionkowicz, originally from Poland, has lived in the United States for decades as a green card holder. Authorities have detained her in Kentucky for nearly a year due to previous shoplifting convictions and allegations of document forgery for immigration benefits. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson informed Newsweek about her status.
Siemionkowicz secured her green card in 2003, having spent much of her adult life in the U.S. alongside her daughters, Claudia and Gabi. A fellow detainee, Donna Hughes-Brown, remarked that Siemionkowicz faced court proceedings over these historical charges but ICE considers them moral turpitude. U.S. immigration law lists crimes involving fraud, theft, or dishonest actions under moral turpitude, often leading to deportation or other penalties.
President Donald Trump has initiated extensive deportation operations, affecting both undocumented and documented immigrants, including green card and visa holders. Various instances of green card holders caught in immigration raids have been reported.
DHS reiterated via email, “Possessing a green card is a privilege, not a right.” The government holds the authority to revoke green cards upon legal infractions.
Newsweek sought comments from Siemionkowicz, her attorney, and her daughters through emails and social media platforms to cover legal expenses.
What To Know
Siemionkowicz was detained on August 2, 2025, in Des Plaines, Illinois while gardening at her daughter Claudia’s residence as reported by The Chicago Tribune.
Initially held for two days at Broadview facility, Siemionkowicz was transferred to Campbell County Detention Center, Kentucky, where she remains detained.
According to DHS, Siemionkowicz is labeled as a ‘criminal alien from Poland’ with prior arrests for shoplifting. She entered the U.S. lawfully in November 1995 but overstayed her admission limit, later receiving a green card in January 2003.
DHS claims she forged documents in 2001 for immigration benefits but hasn’t specified further details.
Siemionkowicz’s daughters acknowledged her two minor theft charges via GoFundMe, noting these thefts were worth less than $150, yet failed to clarify specific charges from 2001 and 2003 according to Newsweek. Misdemeanors in 2005 and 2011 involved retail theft from Jewel and Kohl’s stores.
DHS accuses her of mocking immigration systems and laws, announcing an immigration judge ordered her removal on December 9, 2025. She remains in ICE custody pending deportation.
Her family filed an appeal, working alongside Senator Dick Durbin to aid her release. Newsweek approached Durbin’s office for comments.
Durbin’s office expressed their commitment to Siemionkowicz’s case, maintaining contact and offering ongoing assistance, as shared with The Tribune.
Hughes-Brown added DHS mentioned charges against Siemionkowicz in Poland. However, a Polish government letter disproves these allegations. Documentation from her family supports her clean criminal record in Poland’s national registry.
Previously a commercial cleaner and hospice caregiver, Siemionkowicz financially supported her household. Gabi temporarily left nursing studies at Oakton College to cover expenses including mortgage and legal fees, per The Tribune.
Claudia asserted to The Tribune that her mother’s misdemeanor charges are resolved, and the situation seems unbelievable.
The daughters have launched ‘Bring Beata Home,’ an Instagram page, to promote awareness of her case, contending insufficient proof exists for her detention.
Reported Conditions at Campbell County Detention Center
Donna Hughes-Brown described conditions at CCDC, where she and Siemionkowicz were detained. The center hosts various criminal charges, ranging from attempted murder to drug-related offenses.
Hughes-Brown, an Irish national and green card holder, spent 143 days in detention due to past misdemeanors, released in December.
She detailed unsanitary surroundings, including feces and mold issues, limited access to hygiene and medical services, faced by approximately 70 women.
Newsweek contacted CCDC and DHS for comments on detention conditions.
ICE assured comprehensive medical care is extended upon custody entry, including healthcare services and emergency care. ICE claims many receive the best healthcare they’ve experienced.
Green Card Holders Detained
Approximately 12.8 million lawful permanent residents reside in the U.S. Although legally allowed to live and work, they face potential detention and removal for criminal convictions or immigration violations.
Newsweek documented recent cases involving green card holders like Mahmoud Khalil, detained for three months before release, Salah Sarsour detained over decades-old paperwork, and Dayton Andre Lindsay still in detention amidst proceedings.
Under Trump’s administration, arrests of green card holders reported increased amidst criminal or immigration proceedings.
DHS asserts deportation actions aim at individuals with criminal pasts or immigration violations, detaining ‘the worst of the worst.’
Since January 2025, Trump’s administration deported over 590,600 individuals, as administration figures reveal.
Newsweek editors involved in this story: Jason Lemon and Gray R. Thomas.
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