Germans detained by US immigration over unclear charges

Three German tourists and a U.S. resident have been detained by U.S. immigration officials for weeks without clear reasons. This has led the German government to issue a travel advisory for its citizens considering trips to the United States. Astrid Senior, a U.S. resident and mother to one of the detainees, reported that her son, Fabian Schmidt, was held at Logan Airport after returning from Germany. He is a Green Card holder and had been living in the U.S. since 2007. Senior claims her son was interrogated for hours and was subjected to harsh treatment, including the withholding of medication. His situation grew serious enough to require hospitalization. Despite this, U.S. immigration officials have not provided specific answers regarding his detention. Another detainee, Lucas Sielaff, described his experience when returning from Mexico, where he accompanied his fiancée. He was held for two weeks, shackled, and ultimately deported to Germany without any explanation for his detention. Similarly, Jessica Börsche, a tattoo artist, was detained for six weeks after border officials found her equipment and suspected she intended to work illegally in the U.S. Another young German, Celine Flad, also faced problems despite having valid travel documents. She was held for 24 hours and questioned about her travel plans before being sent back to Germany without explanation. These incidents are among a series of troubling cases that have emerged since the U.S. intensified its immigration policies in recent years. The German Foreign Ministry is closely monitoring these cases and has stressed that valid travel documents do not guarantee entry into the U.S.