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submitted 1 week ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

Summary

Welsh tourist Becky Burke was detained for 19 days in a US immigration facility and transported in chains like "Hannibal Lecter" after alleged visa violations.

Burke had been backpacking and staying with host families in exchange for help around the house, which authorities suspected breached her tourist visa conditions.

Deported on March 18, she described the ordeal as traumatizing. Her parents criticized the harsh treatment and are considering addressing the issue politically.

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[-] sommerset@thelemmy.club 26 points 6 days ago

For some reason I'm confident this is not the first time this happened. But now it's covered by European sources so news leak out to the public.

[-] Phoenicianpirate@lemm.ee 11 points 6 days ago

It happened to a well known Canadian actress (she is well known for her role in the American pie films). She was detained for months over what would have been a tiny paperwork error just a few years ago. She said that the women she was imprisoned also had no criminal record but were treated like murderers.

[-] muxika@lemm.ee 6 points 6 days ago

I'd like to see how policies like these affect hospitality and tourism here in the States. These stories are not good for business.

[-] Yerbouti@sh.itjust.works 232 points 1 week ago

Traveling to a fascist country might be challenging, I personnaly wouldn't take the chance.

[-] char_stats@lemm.ee 49 points 1 week ago

Or, at least, only go with organized tours and a local guide. As long as you don't steal any propaganda posters, you should survive.

[-] gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world 37 points 1 week ago

Anyone willing to encourage tourism to America by being such a guide would probably take your money and then find a reason to get you arrested by ICE anyway. Not like you could take it up with a consumer protection agency now.

[-] DarkDarkHouse@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

This is the real way America will stop immigrants. By being completely awful.

[-] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 199 points 1 week ago

A US customs spokesman previously said they could not discuss specific cases but that travellers were treated with "integrity, respect and according to law".

Bullshit. Too many stories are coming out that prove that's a lie.

Fuck America and fuck Trump.

[-] metaldream@sopuli.xyz 9 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Anyone who's been arrested here knows what a bunch of bullshit that is. The psychopath American people created a legal system that's as harsh and dehumanizing as they could possibly make it under the constitution, and now it's going to get worse.

The cop car seats are made out of hard plastic, and there are no seat belts. They literally want you to fucking die on the way to jail. It happens in a regular basis, and no one cares because this country is full of vengeful sociopaths. They don't care if you're innocent or guilty. They don't care what you were charged with (for me it was smoking weed). And that's just the beginning.

The American people have made it plainly obvious for decades that the constitution is just a piece of paper that gets in the way of their bloodlust and cruelty.

Anyone who's surprised by America veering into fascism has only known this country from a coddled point of view. The current dictatorship is a wet dream for a lot of Americans, and they aren't going to change their minds until he destroys the country, and even then they'll probably celebrate it.

[-] zqps@sh.itjust.works 79 points 1 week ago

Trump's tenure really exposes how many people work in various law enforcement functions apparently just for the privilege to humiliate and hurt people.

[-] bampop@lemmy.world 33 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

At all levels too. I mean, why the 24 hours a day fluorescent lights so you don't know night from day? How does that help? Hell, how does it even make more money? Even with senior management, the cruelty is the point.

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[-] AugustWest@lemm.ee 145 points 1 week ago

Another reminder: these, and all the detention facilities are privately owned and for profit. The motivation is to have a full house to maximize profits.

[-] CalipherJones@lemmy.world 40 points 1 week ago

Just more systems put in place to worship the American God: money.

No crime is too great as long as the parasites at the top are taking more and more and more of our wealth and prosperity from us.

[-] obinice@lemmy.world 106 points 1 week ago

They don't want foreigners in that country any more, and are willing to treat them badly to get their message across.

Don't end up in one of their detainment concentration camps, you never know when you'll be allowed to leave, the way they keep suddenly changing how they do things - for the worse - every few weeks, it could be never.

Don't go to that country. It's too dangerous.

[-] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 25 points 1 week ago

Our government certainly doesn't want foreigners here, but the people remain welcoming.

I lived in San Diego, CA for the entirety of Trump's first term. He kept making it sound like criminals were flooding in there, and harming us. The narrative was that we were victims, and he was some sort of hero.

The reality was we love our Mexican neighbors... And we fucking hate that asshole for lying and demonizing our friends, colleagues, and family members.

This all said, it is not safe here any longer for us in the long term, or foreigners in the short term. He has lost his damn mind, literally, and his followers are brainwashed. America is unsafe, and unstable.

[-] NotSteve_@lemmy.ca 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

I don’t know if I trust the people either when Trump has a nearly 50% approval rating

[-] madsjchic@lemm.ee 5 points 6 days ago

As an American, I agree with you. I DONT trust my neighbors or colleagues.

[-] stringere@sh.itjust.works 1 points 6 days ago

I'm lucky to work in an office that is a healthy mix of ethnicities so when I talk about politics there's enough people to make the racist bootlicking types obey their primary motivator, fear, and keep quiet.

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[-] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 98 points 1 week ago

Why are we not seeing more travel advisories? I know of a few but if this was any other nation you would have advisories from almost everyone by now.

[-] quack@lemmy.zip 46 points 6 days ago

It’s happening, slowly but surely. UK issued one today.

[-] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 37 points 6 days ago
[-] YarHarSuperstar@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Jesus this is all there is for gender/sex/race/immigrant/etc discrimination, if you can even say it's about that

The link about "travel and your identity" idr what it says exactly but it isn't anything specific to US and certainly not much help in the current scenario

[-] Polderviking@feddit.nl 12 points 6 days ago

There's some inertia that needs to be overcome, but it's coming. UK and Germany already posted (rather tame...) advisories.

[-] Freshparsnip@lemm.ee 91 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Anybody who still travels to the Untied States at this point is a fool

[-] aphonefriend@lemmy.dbzer0.com 31 points 1 week ago

So long as Magats remain in charge, traveling to the US is now like traveling to China. You'll probably see some pretty cool things but also have an above 0% chance for a life traumatizing event.

[-] Tungsten5@lemm.ee 27 points 1 week ago

After reading some of these stories I would not visit the US right now. Id stay home and stay safe

[-] peetabix@sh.itjust.works 82 points 1 week ago

Me (British) and my American gf are planning to visit her friends and family over the summer in Navada, Washington and New Mexico. Not so sure i want to go anymore.

[-] BlackSheep@lemmy.ca 11 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Geezus. I’m right next door (Canadian), and I wouldn’t even consider going there. They’re going to start using ANY excuse to detain people. In December 2018, Canadian nationals Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were taken into custody in China. It appeared that their detention on December 10 and subsequent indictment under the state secrets law were linked to the arrest of Huawei's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, in Canada on December 1. In English-language media, the pair are frequently and colloquially referred to as the Two Michaels. Wikipedia. EDIT: I spent 35 years crossing the border camping, shopping, and feeling like I was with trusted neighbours. Really sad...

[-] Owljfien@lemm.ee 3 points 6 days ago

Wasn't it found that those two actually were spies, and it wasn't complete bs that China made that accusation?

[-] AizawaC47@lemm.ee 3 points 6 days ago

Do not go to America! I wouldn’t take any chances. At this point we are a dictatorship country and you’ll be held in a prison if you can escape the corrupt pigs and ice.

[-] Bongo_Stryker@lemmy.ca 45 points 1 week ago
[-] Botanicals@lemmy.world 39 points 1 week ago

100% trust your gut. It's not a good idea.

[-] specterspectre@lemmy.world 38 points 1 week ago

Don't. I used to hike around the southern states for fun. Currently residing in one. The border patrol goons are just headhunting to fill quotas now. Anybody is game. I myself am planning my move out of country right now. Even the magats are not safe and are willing to sacrifice themselves for their hateful ideals.

[-] SeaRobin@reddthat.com 37 points 1 week ago

At this point I would recommend against any non-US national from traveling to the US.

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[-] febra@lemmy.world 65 points 1 week ago

Such an inhumane country. Keeping people in shackles like cattle. Hell, not even cattle gets treated like that.

[-] fibojoly@sh.itjust.works 44 points 1 week ago

They probably freaked out when she started speaking Welsh. Understandable.

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[-] robbinhood@lemmy.world 38 points 1 week ago

Can't wait until the summer rolls around and the fascists start arresting kids for setting up lemonade stands and whatnot.

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[-] technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 26 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

They did this to a white person?!?!?! That's news!

smh

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this post was submitted on 20 Mar 2025
870 points (100.0% liked)

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