Protests in Rhode Island demand release of detained man

Protesters gathered in Rhode Island on Tuesday, demanding the release of Fabian Schmidt, a 34-year-old man from Nashua. Schmidt, a German national with a green card, is currently in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He flew back to the U.S. from Luxembourg on March 7, according to his mother, Astrid Senior. After arriving at Boston Logan International Airport, Schmidt reportedly told his family that he was violently interrogated. His mother claims he was stripped naked and subjected to a cold shower during his detention. However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has denied these allegations. Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham stated that claims about CBP's treatment of Schmidt are "blatantly false." Court records show that Schmidt has had multiple misdemeanor charges in California, including drug-related offenses and a DUI. His mother said Schmidt is working on his sobriety and completed a recovery program in May 2024. Immigration attorney Ron Abramson commented that the treatment described by Schmidt's family is extreme and harsh. Meanwhile, representatives from local officials, including Rep. Maggie Goodlander and Sen. Maggie Hassan, are engaging with immigration officials on Schmidt's case. Their offices have received numerous calls from constituents concerned about Schmidt and ongoing ICE raids in the community. Lawyers for Schmidt have not responded to inquiries about his current status.