Germans fall prey to 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 that responded to the tightening of policies by President Donald Trump.
Two German tourists who were travelling to the United States were detained, handcuffed, and then deported. They fell victim to a system that is 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 services for about seven weeks, and 25-year-old Lucas Sielaff for just over two weeks. They were detained, each separately, at the border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana. As they recounted, they were denied entry to the USA and transported to a crowded detention centre.
Both were ultimately forced to return to Germany, stating that they received no clear communication regarding their detention.
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 travellers, 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 has also been available to Poles 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 travelling this way must understand that ESTA does not guarantee entry to US territory. In such cases, the decision is always made by the immigration officer at the airport or another location during passport control.
Lucas Sielaff flew to the United States on 27 January. Three weeks later, with his partner, an American psychologist living in Las Vegas, they went to Tijuana, but when they tried to return on 18 February, they were not permitted to cross the border. Officials, according to Sielaff’s account, questioned his place of residence, suggesting that he was living illegally in the United States. He was then taken for questioning and subsequently sent to a detention centre.
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 with the special verification system ESTA.
Her friend, Nikita Lofving, speaking to the "NYT," expressed belief 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 is not allowed to do under ESTA.
Friends claim that Brösche remained in a closed centre in San Diego for over six weeks because her case was one of many awaiting review and likely got lost among others, describes "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 services are primarily targeting those who have been living in the USA without legal status for years. But already, two months into Trump’s tenure, scenarios began to materialise that experts and many commentators warned about - the first victims of this policy and the system trying to adapt to it started 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 trapped 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 the policy even more. This time concerning those travelling 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 issuing visas to the USA, if their governments do not take action to resolve issues pointed out by the Americans within 60 days.
