Berlin is investigating whether US immigration policies have been changed after German citizens, who are US residents, were detained and “hardly interrogated” by US border officials.
Fabian Schmidt, 34, is being held at a detention center in Rhode Island after a trip to Luxembourg.
His mother, Astrid, senior, told Boston-based public broadcaster WGBH News that his son was “hardly interrogated” for hours at Boston’s Logan airport, naked and naked, and two officials were taken in a cold shower.
A German government spokesman told Euronows he knew about the incident and two other German citizens who were detained when they tried to enter the United States and then later detained when they returned to Germany, as well as the incident and two other German citizens.
“We recently noticed three cases in which German citizens were unable to enter the United States and were detained for deportation when they entered the country,” spokesman Sebastian Fischer said.
Fischer said two of the three cases had been resolved, and the German government “watched the situation” and contacted other EU countries to assess whether these were isolated cases or representatives of “changes in American immigration policy.”
The senior told the US broadcaster that immigration agents pressured his son to abandon his green card. He was placed on a mat in a bright room at an airport where there was little food or water, denied access to medications for anxiety and depression.
Electrician Schmidt returned to the US on March 7th. His mother didn’t hear until March 11, when she collapsed and then transferred to hospital.
She told NBC News that she didn’t know why her son was taken into custody and “I feel helpless and absolutely helpless.”
Schmidt and his mother moved from Germany to the US in 2007, and the following year they received their permanent resident card. He renewed his legal permanent residence status last year and had no active legal issues, his mother said, but added that he faced misdemeanor charges about a decade ago.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Services said his claims about the case were “blatantly false,” but it goes without saying that it was argued.
CBP sent the same statement to the Guardian without further explanation. The statement also states, “Once an individual is found on drug-related charges and tries to re-enter the country, the officers will take appropriate action.”
The German Foreign Ministry said the Boston consulate is providing assistance.
“It is clear from our partners and all other countries around the world that the prison situation is in compliance with international human rights standards and that detainees will be treated accordingly,” Fisher said.
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The case is the latest in a foreign-born citizen who has been detained and allegedly detained by US border investigators after crackdown on immigration.
The other two Germans affected were Jessica Bresche, a 29-year-old tattoo artist from Berlin, and Lucas Sheilaf, 25, from Saxen-Anhalt. Both have valid US tourist visas and are currently back in Germany.
According to Sielaff’s fiancee, Lennon Tyler, he was detained for two weeks after incorrectly answering questions about where he lived due to inadequate grasp of his English. Sheilaf said that when Las Vegas, where he was staying with Tyler, should have said he was Germany, where he lived forever.
Brouche, who traveled with tattoo equipment, was detained for more than six weeks, including nine days of solitary confinement, her friend allegedly denies the company that owns the detention center.
Meanwhile, the Canadian actor said he was detained for almost two weeks in “inhumane circumstances” over an incomplete visa after attempting to cross the border from Mexico. Jasmine Mooney was held in a single concrete cell without natural light fluorescent lights, with no blankets or bathroom facilities.
And the British woman was detained in “terrifying condition” for three weeks, her family said after the visa disruption.
Rebecca Burke is reportedly currently based in the UK. She was arrested by US border authorities after attempting to travel to Canada and being sent back to the US.
She had planned to stay with her Canadian host family. There, they ended up doing household chores in exchange for accommodation, but Canadians told me they should apply for a work visa instead of a tourist visa.
Burke previously stayed under similar arrangements after a time tour in New York City with a host family in Portland, Oregon.
