Pro-Trump Green Card Holder Was Arrested by ICE After Over 30 Years in US
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Sergey Kostenyuk, a green card holder who has been living in the U.S. for over three decades and has been a supporter of President Donald Trump, was arrested and detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for two months.
Newsweek has reached out to Kostenyuk and his partner Mary Loisate via Facebook Messenger on Friday. Newsweek has also emailed an attorney at the Northwest Immigrants Rights Project and 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.
"Sergey was picked up from immigration Saturday February 15, 2025," a post on what appears to be Kostenyuk's Facebook page reads.
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."
(L): An aerial view of Detainees exercising in an outdoor recreation area at the Northwest ICE Processing Center on May 2, 2025 in Tacoma, Washington. (R): President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in front of...
(L): An aerial view of Detainees exercising in an outdoor recreation area at the Northwest ICE Processing Center on May 2, 2025 in Tacoma, Washington. (R): President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in front of the West Wing of the White House, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Washington. More/AP Photo/Alex Brandon
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.
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.
Amanda Ng, an attorney with Northwest Immigrant Rights Project who was representing Kostenyuk told KUOW that "he shouldn't have been in proceedings at all." Kostenyuk was released in late-April.
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.
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