ICE Detains Canadian Dentist at Minneapolis Interview
Agents took William Lizardo into custody during a routine green card interview over an old deportation order.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Immigration
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Canadian-born dentist William Lizardo during a green card interview in Minneapolis. The detention stemmed from an outstanding deportation order related to a missed court appearance.
Why it matters
The situation highlights the legal complications that can arise when immigration notices are sent to outdated addresses, leaving applicants unaware of pending court requirements.
The green card application for the Canadian-born dentist was officially denied in January 2026. This denial followed a failure to respond to a notice to appear that was mailed to a Virginia address where Lizardo had not resided for over two years.
The players
William Lizardo
He is a Canadian-born dentist who was volunteering at a clinic in Burnsville, Minnesota.
David Whalen
He is the attorney representing the applicant and intends to file an emergency motion for his release.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
This federal agency is responsible for enforcing immigration laws and managing the detention of individuals with outstanding removal orders.
The details
During the interview, an immigration officer exited the room and returned with two ICE agents to execute the detainment. Lizardo, who lives in Victoria, Minnesota, was taken into custody while his attorney was present.
Timeline
January 2026: Lizardo's green card application was denied.
February 2026: The government mailed a notice to appear to a former Virginia address.
October 23, 2026: ICE agents detained William Lizardo in Minneapolis.
Political Context
This case reflects broader debates over the fairness of the Immigration and Nationality Act's requirement for service of notice. Critics and advocacy groups often argue that the system fails to account for address changes, unfairly penalizing individuals for missing hearings they never received notice for.
This incident serves as a reminder for immigrants to ensure that all federal agencies have their most current residential address on file to avoid missed legal notices. Failure to update records can result in immediate custody during routine appointments.
The takeaway
Maintaining accurate address information with immigration services is critical for avoiding accidental lapses in legal compliance. Always verify that official correspondence is reaching your current home address well before any scheduled appointments.
Further reading
For additional context on local enforcement actions, see our report on Minneapolis Immigration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
