Homeland Security says the viral “P’Nut the squirrel” owner overstayed her legal visits, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested her at a New York airport pending removal proceedings.
Story Highlights
- Homeland Security said Daniela Bittner made several lawful entries in 2021–2022, then overstayed.
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested her October 15, 2026, at Elmira Corning Regional Airport.
- Officials said a pending application does not give legal status in the United States.
- Her husband blames a paperwork error and says they never got a denial letter.
DHS outlines lawful entries followed by an overstay claim
Department of Homeland Security officials said Daniela Bittner entered the United States multiple times from May 2021 to November 2022 with permission to stay temporarily, then remained past the allowed period. The department framed this as an overstay and stressed that United States law requires visitors to depart or gain a new status before time runs out. Outlets reported consistent details of this timeline across several stories, citing the same department account of events.
Officials added a clear point about immigration filings. They said a pending application alone does not give legal status. That means a person may still be out of status while waiting for a decision if the application does not carry lawful presence by rule. Reports quoting the department used almost the same wording to make this legal point, which fits standard immigration guidance on pending paperwork and status.
Arrest location, date, and current custody posture
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested Bittner on October 15, 2026, at Elmira Corning Regional Airport in New York, according to the department’s statement. Coverage said she will stay in custody during removal proceedings and receive due process before an immigration judge. Multiple outlets repeated the same arrest date and location when attributing details to the department’s statement, giving a consistent picture of what happened and what comes next in court.
Homeland Security did not release her detailed admission records, visa classes, or the specific statute it believes she violated. Reports did not include the Notice to Appear, which is the charging document that sets out the legal basis in immigration court. That limits what the public can verify about the exact dates and the government’s removability theory. The department’s summary, however, is a normal way agencies comment during active cases.
Husband cites paperwork error and missing denial letter
Bittner’s husband, Mark Longo, says she entered legally on a visa and that they filed forms, sent more information when asked, and never received a denial letter. He describes the case as a minor paperwork issue, not an attempt to break the law. His claims appear across several reports, often in his own words, but the stories do not include agency mail logs, a denial notice, or the full application history to confirm or refute that account.
The couple’s public narrative competes with the department’s brief statement. Without the application file, mailing records, or the court docket, readers cannot test which parts are correct. The gap leaves room for emotion to drive the story because of P’Nut the squirrel’s earlier controversy. The stronger path forward is simple: release the relevant records so the facts about status, deadlines, and notices are plain to see.
How this case fits the larger overstay picture
Homeland Security defines an overstay as a lawful entry followed by staying past the admission period. In fiscal year 2024, the government reported an estimated 538,548 suspected overstay events among in-scope travelers, which was about a 1.15 percent rate. The vast majority of visitors left on time. Those numbers explain why an overstay claim like this is common in immigration enforcement, even if each case turns on its own records.
Mark Longo’s wife Daniela Bittner, a German national and former co-owner of the viral squirrel P’Nut, has been in ICE custody for nearly a month after her October 16, 2026 airport detention.
Longo describes it as a minor paperwork error and fears her deportation would end their… pic.twitter.com/pPfWh4W9LW
— Bella (@stockbella) November 11, 2026
Conservatives should demand two things at once: enforce the law fairly and show the receipts. If the records prove an overstay, the court should act. If the file shows agency error, fix it fast. That is how a serious nation handles immigration—clear rules, secure borders, due process, and no special treatment for viral fame. Transparency would cut the noise, protect limited government trust, and keep attention on the Constitution’s promise of equal justice under law.
Sources:
nypost.com, nbcnews.com, chron.com, masslive.com, thedailybeast.com
