Connor Read ICE detention: British dad held seven weeks
Connor Read ICE detention began on 3 June 2026, when US immigration agents arrested the British-born Florida father at a Tampa green card interview. The 29-year-old, who has lived in America since age nine, has been held for more than seven weeks and faces possible deportation while he appeals a final removal order.
Key Takeaways
- Connor Read, 29, was arrested by ICE at a Tampa residency interview on 3 June 2026 and separated from his wife and twin sons.
- He has lived in the US since 2007, previously held Daca status, and runs a Florida pressure-washing business.
- ICE cites older convictions and a 2011 removal order; Read says he feels he is serving time as an innocent person.
- He was moved from a Florida jail to a Louisiana ICE centre and has been warned an appeal decision may take up to six months.
What happened at Connor Read's green card interview?
According to The Guardian, Read attended a green card meeting at the federal immigration building in Tampa with his wife, Jaelin, 25, and their three-year-old twins, Ryder and Ozzie.
Officials separated him for what was presented as a solo interview. Four ICE agents then arrested him and removed him from the building. Immigration staff told Jaelin he would not be coming home.
Jaelin described chaos in a crowded waiting room as their sons reacted. She said agents did not review paperwork the couple had prepared for weeks, calling the appointment "such a ruse."
Read was taken to Pinellas County Jail for eight days, then flown in restraints to the Central Louisiana Processing Center, where he has remained for about seven weeks. He has said he is being treated like a murderer and that the shackling made it feel as if agents were transporting murderers.
Why does ICE say Connor Read can be deported?
Originally from Chatham in Kent, Read entered the US on 21 November 2007 on an F-2 visa tied to a parent's student status. After a visa violation, he was placed in removal proceedings. A final removal order dates to January 2011.
At 16 he received Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) protection. Reports say a narcotics-related conviction later blocked renewal at age 22. ICE lists convictions for possession of narcotic equipment, possession of liquor and resisting an officer, and has labelled him a "criminal illegal alien."
An ICE spokesperson said nearly 70% of ICE arrests involve people charged or convicted of a crime, framing the case under the Trump administration's enforcement priorities. Read, who says "I don't know England, I know Florida," owns Refresh Florida, a pressure-washing firm, and argues his scrapes were minor.
What happens next for Connor Read and his family?
Read is appealing the final removal order but has been told a decision may not come for up to six months. He said he feels like an innocent person serving time, adding: "It drives me crazy."
Jaelin and the children are relying on GoFundMe support while finances strain. The couple say they may move the family to the UK if that is required, though Read believes he has a strong case.
The case has drawn UK and US attention as another high-profile example of long-settled residents swept into detention. Follow related explainers and newsroom updates in our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.