ICE Deportation Begins with Slap at Wynn Las Vegas Buffet

By jili tutorial · September 10, 2026

The Slap That Led to Deportation: How a Minor Incident at a Vegas Buffet Triggered ICE Custody

A seemingly minor altercation at a Las Vegas Strip buffet escalated into a three-month immigration detention and eventual deportation. This incident, involving a tourist from Southern California, illustrates how local domestic violence laws, police notification policies, and federal immigration enforcement can intersect — often with life-altering consequences. Below, we break down the case, the legal mechanisms involved, and the broader implications for foreign-born individuals in the United States.

The Incident: What Happened at The Buffet at Wynn?

On April 6, 2026, Arpine Misakyan and her husband, Karen Harutyunyan, were dining at The Buffet at the Wynn Las Vegas. According to an arrest report obtained by KLAS-TV/Las Vegas, the couple argued over a phone. Security cameras captured Misakyan slapping her husband, prompting a surveillance officer to call the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD).

Arrest and Medical Response: Misakyan was removed from the Encore on a stretcher after complaining of high blood pressure and trouble breathing. She was taken to UMC hospital for observation, then transported to the Clark County Detention Center.
Charge and Prosecution: The Clark County District Attorney’s office initially reviewed the case for domestic battery. However, they declined to pursue charges. Despite this, Misakyan remained in custody — and ICE stepped in.

How a Domestic Violence Arrest Led to ICE Notification

Even though the local charge was dropped, Misakyan was already in the system. Two key policies triggered federal involvement:

Nevada’s Mandatory Cooling-Off Period
Nevada law (NRS 178.484) requires a 12-hour hold in domestic violence cases before bail can be set. This “cooling-off” period meant Misakyan could not be released immediately, giving authorities time to notify ICE.
LVMPD’s ICE Notification Policy
The LVMPD operates under a 287(g) Warrant Service Officer memorandum of agreement with ICE. This policy mandates that “when a foreign-born individual is arrested and charged with a felony, domestic violence, driving under the influence (DUI), burglary, theft, larceny, petit larceny, and/or assault of a law enforcement officer, the Detention Services Division will notify ICE at the time of both booking and release.”

Context: The 287(g) program allows local law enforcement to perform certain immigration enforcement functions. In this case, the notification policy is a standard part of the agreement, meaning almost any arrest of a non-citizen for certain offenses can lead to an ICE detainer.

From Local Jail to ICE Processing Facility

On April 8, 2026 — two days after her arrest — ICE Salt Lake City officers arrested Misakyan while she was still at the Clark County Detention Center. She was then transferred:

First to the Henderson Detention Center
Then to the Adelanto ICE Processing Facility in San Bernardino County, California

Voluntary Departure: After three months in custody, Misakyan accepted “voluntary departure” — a form of deportation where the migrant agrees to leave the U.S. at their own expense, often avoiding a formal removal order. She was flown to Armenia on July 4, 2026.

The Pending Asylum Case

According to KLAS, Misakyan reportedly had a pending asylum case at the time of her arrest. Asylum seekers can legally be present in the U.S. while their case is adjudicated. However, an arrest for domestic violence — even if not prosecuted — can complicate that status.

Impact on Asylum: A charge of domestic violence, especially if it results in a conviction or admission of facts, can be considered a “particularly serious crime” and bar asylum. Even without a conviction, ICE may argue that the individual poses a danger to the community.
Note: In Misakyan’s case, no charges were filed, yet ICE still pursued removal based on her undocumented status — likely aggravated by the incident.

Lawsuit and Legal Challenges

On May 18, 2026, while in ICE custody, Misakyan filed a federal lawsuit against:

James Janecka (warden of the Adelanto facility)
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi
Senior ICE official Tae Johnson
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin

She sought to challenge her detention, arguing that it was unlawful given the dismissed local charges. However, before a judge could rule, she voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit and chose self-deportation.

Why drop the lawsuit? Legal observers note that while in ICE custody, pursuing a case is difficult. Voluntary departure can be faster than fighting a removal order, and it avoids a formal deportation on her record, which might affect future travel.

Key Takeaways for Non-Citizens in the U.S.

This case highlights several critical lessons for foreign-born individuals — including legal permanent residents, visa holders, and asylum seekers:

Any arrest can trigger ICE notification. Policies like LVMPD’s 287(g) agreement mean that even minor charges can lead to immigration consequences.
Domestic violence allegations are especially serious. They fall under both state mandatory-hold laws and federal immigration priorities.
A pending asylum case does not guarantee protection from detention. If you are arrested, ICE can detain you even before your asylum claim is adjudicated.
Voluntary departure may be a strategic choice. It often leads to faster release and avoids a formal removal order, but it means leaving the U.S. — and potentially giving up an open asylum case.

Conclusion

The slap at a Wynn Las Vegas buffet set off a chain of events that ended with a 28-year-old woman being detained for three months and deported to Armenia. While the local prosecutor found no reason to pursue the battery case, federal immigration law filled the gap. For anyone living in or visiting the U.S. without full citizenship, understanding how local police interact with ICE is not optional — it’s essential.