ICE detains British citizen for 19 days for doing household chores

IMMIGRATION CORNER

- MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL, ESQ

The media news outlet The Independent reported that a British backpacker hiking near the Canadian border was detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for 19 days, before being led onto a plane in chains "like Hannibal Lecter" and deported back to the UK.

Her crime? On a previous visit, she stayed with a family and did household chores, which DHS considered "work" and a violation of her visitor visa.

According to the report, the backpacker had been allowed into the US on Jan. 7, 2025 without issue. She was backpacking across North America when she was detained while attempting to cross into the state of Washington after having tried to enter Canada.

Under questioning about her past visits and future plans, she stated that she was planning to stay with a family, where she would do some domestic or household chores in exchange for them providing accommodations. She stated she had done the same thing on a previous visit.