Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

highplainsdem

(55,436 posts)
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 11:16 AM Apr 11

Australian with working visa detained and deported on returning to US from sister's memorial

Source: Guardian

-snip-

The Australian says he was detained and deported when returning from the memorial in March, despite holding a working visa still valid for more than 15 months. He has been living on the US east coast for seven years – where his American partner, apartment, work studio and clients remain.

-snip-

“I thought I was just going to be given my passport and sent on my way, or maybe asked a couple of questions, but they made some pretty outlandish accusations. They said, ‘We know you have two mobile phones. We’ve been tracking your calls. We know you’ve been selling drugs’.”

-snip-

He says that over a series of short interviews amounting to about half an hour, the official told him his visa had been cancelled and that he was banned from entering the US for five years, including as a transit passenger. He was told he would be placed on a flight to Australia and was handed a document informing him that he was an “immigrant not in possession of a valid unexpired immigrant visa” as required by the Immigration and Nationality Act. He says he felt he had no choice but to sign the document, which Guardian Australia has seen.

He says the official then told him: “Trump is back in town; we’re doing things the way we should have always been doing them.”

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/11/australian-with-us-working-visa-detained-insulted-deported

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

speak easy

(11,382 posts)
4. "Are you deaf or just retarded?"
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 11:30 AM
Apr 11
...he was careful to remain “overly polite”. He says when he asked the officer to repeat a comment he hadn’t heard, the man replied: “Are you deaf or just retarded?”


Jonathan says he was told he could ask to speak to the man’s boss, who, he was warned, usually “didn’t have much to say”. He says the boss pointed to the official and told Jonathan: “Whatever he said.”

speak easy

(11,382 posts)
9. "You got shit for brains or something? What's the matter with you!? You heard me. "
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 11:50 AM
Apr 11

In NYC when I asked a transport official to repeat what he said because I had not caught all of it.

SSJVegeta

(355 posts)
6. "Trump is back in town, we're doing things the way they should have been done"
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 11:33 AM
Apr 11

From a Fed employee? 😒 🤔

Irish_Dem

(68,195 posts)
7. If I am in this situation, I am not giving up my phone.
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 11:33 AM
Apr 11

I will fight to keep it.
There is nothing on it, but I am not going to give up without a fight.

Irish_Dem

(68,195 posts)
11. American citizens are turning over their phones on demand.
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 12:30 PM
Apr 11

Rachael Maddow interviewed an American attorney who was stopped and turned
over some of the info on his phone. He was detained because he represents people Trump hates.

speak easy

(11,382 posts)
12. The CBP has no authority to deny Citizens entry into the United States that I aware of.
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 12:33 PM
Apr 11

Phone or no phone.

Irish_Dem

(68,195 posts)
15. Trump's Gestapo does what they want.
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 01:35 PM
Apr 11

They have little or no authority to commit their daily crimes.

SSJVegeta

(355 posts)
17. For the time being, certain people are better equipped to challenge them if enough don't obey in advance
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 12:18 AM
Saturday

So far citizens are among those groups

Aaeia

(134 posts)
14. Power
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 01:11 PM
Apr 11

People who have never had a sense of power in their lives get high on a little power & they are the ones who become the most abusive of that little power.

The new America.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Australian with working v...