Germans deported under Trump's immigration crackdown
Two Germans wanted to cross the American-Mexican border. They were detained for several weeks without being given reasons for this decision and were then forced to return to their country. According to the media, they fell victim to a system responding to the tightening of policies by President Donald Trump.
Two German tourists traveling to the United States were detained, handcuffed, and then deported. They were caught in a system adjusting to President Donald Trump’s policies, as reported by German and American media.
According to "The New York Times," 29-year-old Jessica Brösche was held by American authorities for 46 days, and 25-year-old Lucas Sielaff for 16 days. They were each detained separately at the border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana. They recounted that they were denied entry to the USA and transported to a crowded detention center.
Both were ultimately forced to return to Germany without clear communication as to why they were even detained.
The cases of Jessica Brösche, held for 46 days, and Lucas Sielaff, held for 16, and accounts of their rough handling by immigration officers, have grabbed headlines in Germany as a sign of what being caught on the wrong side of the White House’s immigration policy could mean for European travelers, writes the American newspaper.
They were in Mexico and wanted to enter the USA
Jessica Brösche wanted to cross the American border based on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which Poles have also been able to use for several years since visas to the USA were waived. Under this system, one can fly to the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. It applies to both tourist and business trips.
However, tourists traveling this way must know that ESTA still does not guarantee entry to US territory. In such cases, an immigration officer at the airport or another location during passport control makes the decision.
Lucas Sielaff flew to the United States on January 27. Three weeks later, with his partner—an American psychologist living in Las Vegas—they went to Tijuana. However, when they tried to return on February 18, they were not allowed to cross the border. Officials, according to Sielaff’s account, asked about his place of residence, suggesting that he was living illegally in the United States. He was then taken for questioning and subsequently to a detention center.
Detention and deportation
Brösche told the German "Bild" that she planned to enter the United States after spending a week in Tijuana and had previously registered in the special verification system ESTA.
Her friend, Nikita Lofving, speaking to the "NYT," said she believed that American officials saw tattoo equipment in Brösche’s luggage (she is a tattoo artist) and concluded that she might be planning to work in the United States, which one cannot do while traveling under ESTA.
Friends claim that Brösche remained in a detention center in San Diego for over six weeks because her case was one of many waiting to be reviewed, likely getting lost among others, as described by "The New York Times."
Dark scenarios are coming true
U.S. President Donald Trump promised during his election campaign to send back migrants who are staying illegally in the United States. This applies to all nationalities.
After Donald Trump moved into the White House, detentions and deportation actions began. American authorities are primarily targeting those who have been living in the USA without legal status for years. However, two months into Trump’s tenure, scenarios began to materialize that experts and many commentators warned about—the first victims of this policy and the system trying to adapt to it began to appear.
The case of the two German tourists is not the first. As noted by "NYT," the family of a 28-year-old tourist from the UK, Becky Burke, claims that she was held for over two weeks in the U.S. state of Washington, similarly caught in the system as the Germans—although the reasons are unknown.
Further policy tightening looms
There are many indications that Donald Trump wants to go further and tighten policy even more, this time concerning those traveling to the USA. He intends to impose strict travel restrictions on people from 43 countries. According to American media reports, citizens of these countries will not be able to count on visas in the United States.
The draft of Trump’s new policy lists 11 countries, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, and North Korea, which are to be subject to the heaviest restrictions, including a full visa suspension.
The second group, consisting of five countries: Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan, may experience partial suspensions of tourist and student visas, as well as other immigrant visas.
The third group includes 26 countries, including Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan. These countries may face partial suspension of visa issuance to the USA, if their governments do not take action to resolve issues pointed out by Americans within 60 days.
