When I was in practice, San Diego was a dangerous place to apply.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...w-arrests.html

From reading the stories of the one spouse from Germany and the other from the UK, can't help but think they both entered the US on the VWP, married and then tried AOS..... both had expired VWP's (the German spouse admitted as such) and, in this day and age, they were picked up as overstayers.
If this is the case this forum has always advised not to go this route.....

San Diego was ground zero against VWP adjustments. Also, they were hostile to military families. Bona v Gonzales originated in San Diego. Even after remand from the Court of appeals, DHS was oppositional. Then one day, a new DHS attorney appeared in Court and argued that the case before the court could be “distinguished” from the appellate case. The IJ gently suggested that the government attorney look at the name of the parties involved.

One of the UK newspapers has confirm the British woman entered the US, and married. She intended to leave and apply for a spouse visa but a few weeks later 'discovered' herself pregnant and, lo and behold, the pregnancy was found to be 'risky' and so decided not to leave.
Her VWP ran out sometime in Jan 2025, she had the baby in June and applied for AOS in July 2025.... when she got picked up for overstaying.......
She took a chance.....