The German tourist was traveling under an ESTA visa waiver, which explicitly prohibits employment in the U.S. While there’s no conclusive evidence she worked illegally, ICE may have suspected a violation.
However, even if such a suspicion were valid, her treatment—being detained for over a month and spending nine days in solitary confinement—was grossly disproportionate and violated both CBP’s 72-hour detention limit and international standards for humane treatment.
For your wife’s situation, following visa rules and carrying proper documentation is crucial, but the system’s unpredictability—especially for non-white foreigners—remains a valid concern. Vigilance is essential to navigate these flawed processes.
The German tourist was traveling under an ESTA visa waiver, which explicitly prohibits employment in the U.S. While there’s no conclusive evidence she worked illegally, ICE may have suspected a violation.
However, even if such a suspicion were valid, her treatment—being detained for over a month and spending nine days in solitary confinement—was grossly disproportionate and violated both CBP’s 72-hour detention limit and international standards for humane treatment.
For your wife’s situation, following visa rules and carrying proper documentation is crucial, but the system’s unpredictability—especially for non-white foreigners—remains a valid concern. Vigilance is essential to navigate these flawed processes.
ICE may have cooked up a violation as an excuse. They lack credibility.