British backpacker faced harsh treatment from U.S. officials

A British backpacker named Rebecca Burke, aged 28, was detained by U.S. immigration officials for 19 days at the U.S.-Canada border. Her father, Paul Burke, spoke out about the harsh treatment his daughter faced before being deported. He described how she was taken to the airport in leg chains, waist chains, and handcuffs, likening the situation to a scene from the movie "The Silence of the Lambs." Paul Burke said that Rebecca struggled to walk while in chains and needed help from an immigration officer. He expressed frustration over the lack of communication from officials, noting that he only learned about her deportation through a call from another detainee. He believes that changes must be made to prevent similar situations for others in the future. Rebecca entered the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program, which prohibits compensation for work. She had been staying with a host family in exchange for chores. After her detention, she returned to the UK on Tuesday.