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highplainsdem

(59,639 posts)
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 10:16 AM Apr 2025

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
Australian with working visa detained and deported on returning to US from sister's memorial (Original Post) highplainsdem Apr 2025 OP
No words. c-rational Apr 2025 #1
Really, there are no words. sop Apr 2025 #2
They are doing all they can to alienate former allies, like all abusers do. SheltieLover Apr 2025 #3
"Are you deaf or just retarded?" speak easy Apr 2025 #4
America is full of these ugly Gestapo types. Irish_Dem Apr 2025 #8
"You got shit for brains or something? What's the matter with you!? You heard me. " speak easy Apr 2025 #9
"We've been tracking your calls." Irish_Dem Apr 2025 #5
"Trump is back in town, we're doing things the way they should have been done" SSJVegeta Apr 2025 #6
If I am in this situation, I am not giving up my phone. Irish_Dem Apr 2025 #7
Citizens can hold onto their phones at immigration. speak easy Apr 2025 #10
American citizens are turning over their phones on demand. Irish_Dem Apr 2025 #11
The CBP has no authority to deny Citizens entry into the United States that I aware of. speak easy Apr 2025 #12
Trump's Gestapo does what they want. Irish_Dem Apr 2025 #15
For the time being, certain people are better equipped to challenge them if enough don't obey in advance SSJVegeta Apr 2025 #17
... speak easy Apr 2025 #13
Power Aaeia Apr 2025 #14
tRUMP built that wolfie001 Apr 2025 #16
K&R BlueWavePsych Apr 2025 #18

speak easy

(12,594 posts)
4. "Are you deaf or just retarded?"
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 10:30 AM
Apr 2025
...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

(12,594 posts)
9. "You got shit for brains or something? What's the matter with you!? You heard me. "
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 10:50 AM
Apr 2025

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

SSJVegeta

(2,240 posts)
6. "Trump is back in town, we're doing things the way they should have been done"
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 10:33 AM
Apr 2025

From a Fed employee? 😒 🤔

Irish_Dem

(79,377 posts)
7. If I am in this situation, I am not giving up my phone.
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 10:33 AM
Apr 2025

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

Irish_Dem

(79,377 posts)
11. American citizens are turning over their phones on demand.
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 11:30 AM
Apr 2025

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

(12,594 posts)
12. The CBP has no authority to deny Citizens entry into the United States that I aware of.
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 11:33 AM
Apr 2025

Phone or no phone.

Irish_Dem

(79,377 posts)
15. Trump's Gestapo does what they want.
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 12:35 PM
Apr 2025

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

SSJVegeta

(2,240 posts)
17. For the time being, certain people are better equipped to challenge them if enough don't obey in advance
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 11:18 PM
Apr 2025

So far citizens are among those groups

Aaeia

(168 posts)
14. Power
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 12:11 PM
Apr 2025

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.

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