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British tourist detained by US authorities for 10 days over visa issue

theguardian.com

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Re: British tourist detained by US authorities for 10 days over visa issue

#111

Post by anigbrowl »

viraptor wrote: post #19
decimalenough wrote: post #14

If she is on a "four-month backpacking trip around North America" and tried to return to the US, she has exceeded the 90-day limit allowed by the Visa Waiver Program (which counts days both in the US and "adjacent territories") and is now an illegal overstayer. The unpaid labor stuff and getting refused entry to Canada is icing on the cake. For the record, I'm no fan of ICE/CBP, but it looks like they're just enforci…

Enforcing the law is one thing. If they refused entry or forced her to fly back immediately, nobody would care much. Detaining is all of: cruel, expensive, unnecessary.

Probably profitable though. A lot of those immigration detention centers are privately operated.

Re: British tourist detained by US authorities for 10 days over visa issue

#112

Post by toast0 »

sergers wrote: post #45
Svip wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah. I missed that; maybe Canada only recognises the US visa stay if one entered the US first. I did this research back in 2017, and I may misremember some details.

i think she was "working" but potentially unpaid/compensated in lodging staying a t https://www.workaway.info/ (which was reported by the BBC where she was staying)

This site now has a popup for the US

> Important information about visiting: United States > If you are NOT a US CITIZEN and are planning to visit to work, volunteer or study, YOU WILL NEED THE CORRECT VISA. To find out more information you need to contact the embassy in your home country BEFORE traveling.

But a quick look around near me looks like work for immigration purposes, so someone on a tourist visa to the US should not be participating.

Re: British tourist detained by US authorities for 10 days over visa issue

#113

Post by [deleted] »

buyucu wrote: post #62
decimalenough wrote: post #14

If she is on a "four-month backpacking trip around North America" and tried to return to the US, she has exceeded the 90-day limit allowed by the Visa Waiver Program (which counts days both in the US and "adjacent territories") and is now an illegal overstayer. The unpaid labor stuff and getting refused entry to Canada is icing on the cake. For the record, I'm no fan of ICE/CBP, but it looks like they're just enforci…

detaining for 10 days is nonsense. Just deny entry and send them back.

[deleted]

Re: British tourist detained by US authorities for 10 days over visa issue

#114

Post by bloomingeek »

DidYaWipe wrote: post #96
n1b0m wrote: post #78

A similar story about Ice detaining a German tourist in California indefinitely. Jessica Brösche has spent more than a month in detention center after being denied entry at San Diego from Mexico. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/03/ice-german-t...

The hypocrisy of everything under this administration boggles the mind. "You're here illegally! No, we won't let you leave!"

I have English relatives, my son-in-laws family, lovely people. They want to come visit again, but are concerned about the craziness of the current administration. When they visit, they spend plenty of money and have a great time. Does the GOP think tourists from other countries aren't paying attention?!?

Re: British tourist detained by US authorities for 10 days over visa issue

#115

Post by anigbrowl »

averageRoyalty wrote: post #41
viraptor wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, they could consider detention. But then there are daily flights back to the UK. Anything beyond an overnight stay (if necessary for the wait) is unfair.

I'm not convinced it's the Americans responsibility to get her back to a suitable international airport as quickly as possible and put her in the next flight out. 10 days does seem excessive, but I don't see why she should be a priority either. I would imagine up to 5 working days fits within the realm of 'reasonable'.

If authorities think she should be deported, then deport her. Imprisonment is perverse, it is literally the most expensive option.

Re: British tourist detained by US authorities for 10 days over visa issue

#116

Post by necovek »

kennysoona wrote: post #22
decimalenough wrote: post #14

If she is on a "four-month backpacking trip around North America" and tried to return to the US, she has exceeded the 90-day limit allowed by the Visa Waiver Program (which counts days both in the US and "adjacent territories") and is now an illegal overstayer. The unpaid labor stuff and getting refused entry to Canada is icing on the cake. For the record, I'm no fan of ICE/CBP, but it looks like they're just enforci…

There's a right and a wrong way to enforce the law, though. Putting her in a literal prison and in an orange jumpsuit is overkill. Clearly she just screwed up and thought what she was doing was ok, but isn't a threat. Let her go back to the UK and no longer be eligible for ESTA. How is that not sufficient?

There is only one way to enforce the law, which is to enforce it upon learning of all the circumstances, both in favour and not in favour of the accused. The fact that you are not familiar with the law never protects you by design ("oh sorry, I never realised I wasn't allowed to just take their bike and ride away") — so it's upon the courts to make judgement on the entire set of circumstances.

The problem with any immigration service in the world is that they are dealing with non-citizens which lack most protections citizenship would have given them — which means that it may take its sweet time before courts actually hear her defense and probably decide as you suggest (along with introducing a 3 or 5 year ban on entering the US).

Re: British tourist detained by US authorities for 10 days over visa issue

#117

Post by jajko »

bloomingeek wrote: post #114
DidYaWipe wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The hypocrisy of everything under this administration boggles the mind. "You're here illegally! No, we won't let you leave!"

I have English relatives, my son-in-laws family, lovely people. They want to come visit again, but are concerned about the craziness of the current administration. When they visit, they spend plenty of money and have a great time. Does the GOP think tourists from other countries aren't paying attention?!?

Wanted to visit US for 2 weeks next year or one after with kids. Forget that, will reevaluate that decision in 4 years but not holding my breath about future development. Shame...

Re: British tourist detained by US authorities for 10 days over visa issue

#118

Post by apercu »

bloomingeek wrote: post #114
DidYaWipe wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The hypocrisy of everything under this administration boggles the mind. "You're here illegally! No, we won't let you leave!"

I have English relatives, my son-in-laws family, lovely people. They want to come visit again, but are concerned about the craziness of the current administration. When they visit, they spend plenty of money and have a great time. Does the GOP think tourists from other countries aren't paying attention?!?

>"Does the GOP think"

Re: British tourist detained by US authorities for 10 days over visa issue

#119

Post by mingus88 »

sergers wrote: post #42

i was following this on another site before it showed up here: 1)UK citizens dont need a visa perse coming into canada as a tourist 1b) electronic travel authorization form is not required for UK citizens coming to canada over land border. 2)she was staying at Workaway, which depending on how you interpret/misinterpret is "working" (which it possibly is, a little shady on what they are.) so canada may have thought sh…

I traveled quite a bit at one point and it was beaten into my head repeatedly that you never mention work unless you have a work visa

It was acceptable to say you were there for a day for a “meeting” but that was still a touchy subject they could absolutely detain you for. “They” in this case was not the U.S. border patrol. All countries want to keep out workers who don’t have the right visa

Needless to say, telling border patrol of any country that you are a residing at someone’s house to work under the table in exchange for housing should get you in trouble.

The U.S. just seems more amenable to making your life hell over it right now

Re: British tourist detained by US authorities for 10 days over visa issue

#120

Post by necovek »

timeon wrote: post #106
kennysoona wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a right and a wrong way to enforce the law, though. Putting her in a literal prison and in an orange jumpsuit is overkill. Clearly she just screwed up and thought what she was doing was ok, but isn't a threat. Let her go back to the UK and no longer be eligible for ESTA. How is that not sufficient?

It seems shocking from European perspective. At least they did not shot her because of resisting or something.

She might experience the same thing if she planned a "work away" trip to the EU, now that UK is not part of the EU.
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