• neon_nova@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        2 days ago

        Thank you. It seems she may have had a job in the states illegally. But it doesn’t really say.

        I’m a bit curious about this story as my wife is a non-white foreigner and we are debating on having her apply for a tourist visa to visit with me this October. We live together in her country.

        I’m just a bit worried something like this would happen to her.

        • meowmeowbeanz@sopuli.xyz
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          2 days ago

          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.