Tourists from several European countries are experiencing severe measures upon arriving in the United States, with many being sent to deportation facilities rather than enjoying their vacations.
Even travelers with no prior legal issues are being detained. Citizens from the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and Germany are among those affected.
Rebecca Burke, a 28-year-old British woman, was detained when attempting to enter the U.S. from Canada. Her family claims the issue stemmed from a visa misunderstanding. She was held in a deportation facility for 19 days, during which time her father stated she was given only “cold rice, potatoes, and beans” and had very limited access to her phone. Rebecca has since returned to the UK, though she admitted she is “slowly recovering” from the experience.
A similar case involved 35-year-old Canadian Jasmine Mooney, who was detained at the U.S.-Mexico border while attempting to extend her work visa. Her relatives reported that she was held in an Arizona deportation center for nearly two weeks, where “30 people were in one cell, and the conditions were degrading.” During her detention, she was reportedly kept in handcuffs and shackles.
A controversy also arose when a French scientist was denied entry while traveling to a conference in Houston. French authorities claim the refusal was due to “critical remarks about Trump” found on his phone. However, U.S. officials countered that the scientist had breached confidentiality rules by accessing certain data from an American nuclear center.
In response to these incidents, Germany’s Foreign Ministry has issued an updated travel advisory, warning tourists about the possibility of detentions and deportations when entering the United States.
