Why Border Patrol detained tourists and green-card holders

Summary

Apple News Today: Episode Summary – "Why Border Patrol Detained Tourists and Green-Card Holders"

Release Date: March 17, 2025
Host: Shemitah Basu

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Introduction

In this episode of Apple News Today, host Shemitah Basu delves into the troubling surge in detentions and deportations of legal immigrants and tourists in the United States. The discussion prominently features the use of outdated wartime laws by the Trump administration, the precarious state of Washington D.C.'s budget, and concludes with highlights from recent national and international events.

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Immigration Detentions and Deportations

High-Profile Detentions

The episode opens with the arrest of Mahmoud Halil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate. Halil's detention marks the beginning of a worrying trend where individuals with legal status in the U.S., such as green card holders or valid visa holders, are facing sudden deportations or detentions.

Case Highlights:

1. Rasha Alawiya – Boston Detention

   • Background: Rasha Alawiya, an H1B visa holder and medical doctor from Rhode Island, was returning from Lebanon when she was detained at Boston airport.
   • Issues Faced: Despite resolving initial visa challenges, Alawiya was denied access to her lawyer and phone, leading to her deportation flight proceeding despite a federal judge’s order to halt the process.
   • Authority’s Stance: A Customs and Border Protection spokesperson stated, “Our officers adhered to protocol” (00:55).

2. Fabian Schmidt – Luxembourg Green Card Holder

   • Incident: Schmidt, returning from Luxembourg, was arrested due to a dropped misdemeanor marijuana possession charge from 2015.
   • Impact: His family reported traumatic treatment, including being stripped naked and violently interrogated. Immigration officials maintain that such charges can lead to the revocation of legal residency, though due process is required by law.
   • Family Statement: “He was stripped naked and violently interrogated,” said Schmidt’s mother (01:25).

3. Jessica Broch and Nikita Lovingk – German Tourists in San Diego

   • Circumstances: Both German tourists were detained while attempting to re-enter the U.S. from Mexico on tourist visas.
   • Controversy: Lovingk claims her detention was linked to Broch’s intention to tattoo her, which authorities interpreted as unauthorized work.
   • Emotional Impact: Lovingk expressed profound distress, stating, “I'm trying to keep it together. Her first nine days, she was held in solitary confinement, which was absolute torture for her” (03:26).

4. Rebecca Burke – British Tourist

   • Event: Burke was detained upon trying to return to the U.S. after being denied entry to Canada for intending to perform chores in exchange for lodging.
   • Official Reasoning: ICE cited violation of visa terms without detailed explanation.
   • Family's Frustration: Burke’s father remarked, “It's turned into a nightmare for her, for us” (04:17).

Impact on U.S. Tourism

The Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies have significantly dampened tourism. According to the Washington Post:

• Decline in Visitors: Overseas visitors to the U.S. decreased by 2.4% in February compared to the previous year.
• Economic Consequences: Tourism Economics projects a 5% decline in tourism for the year, potentially leading to billions in losses amidst an already fragile economy exacerbated by tariffs and trade wars.

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Use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798

A focal point of the episode is the Trump administration’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport approximately 238 suspected members of the Venezuelan gang, Trende Aragua, to El Salvador.

Legal and Constitutional Implications

• Historical Context: This act, seldom used since the World Wars, grants the president extraordinary powers to detain and deport non-citizens from countries deemed hostile.
• Expert Insight: Camilo Montoya Galvez, Immigration and Politics reporter for CBS News, explains, “It allows officials to process people subject to it without any of the due process protections outlined in U.S. immigration law” (05:55).
• Judicial Conflict: A federal judge had issued an order blocking the deportation flights. However, the administration proceeded, raising potential constitutional clashes over executive versus judicial authority.
• ACLU’s Position: The American Civil Liberties Union contends that the act is inapplicable here since the U.S. is not formally at war with Venezuela.

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Washington D.C.'s Budget in Limbo

The episode shifts focus to the political turmoil surrounding Washington D.C.'s budget, which has been thrust into uncertainty due to legislative actions.

Stopgap Spending Bill

• Legislation Passed: The Senate approved a Republican stopgap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown, extending funding until September.
• D.C. Budget Cuts: Contrary to typical exclusions, this bill included a $1 billion cut to D.C.’s budget, disrupting previously approved and allocated funds.

Consequences for Washington D.C.

• Local Impact: Megan Flynn, a Washington Post reporter, highlights that essential services such as education, public safety, and transit could face significant layoffs and furloughs.
• Economic Strain: The public transit system alone may face a $200 million deficit, severely affecting commuters across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
• Community Response: Local officials and residents have protested the budget cuts, emphasizing that "virtually every area of the government would be impacted" (09:54).

Legislative Debate

• Opposition Argument: Critics argue that cutting D.C.'s budget does not contribute to federal savings since it relies heavily on local tax revenues.
• House Action Delayed: Although the Senate passed legislation to allow D.C.'s 2025 budget to proceed, the House has not yet voted on this measure, leaving the district in uncertainty.

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Additional News Highlights

Severe Weather Events in the U.S.

The country has been battered by a series of destructive weather phenomena, including tornadoes, wildfires, and dust storms, resulting in at least 40 deaths and widespread infrastructure damage.

• Kansas: A dust storm caused a multi-vehicle crash killing at least eight people.
• Mississippi and Missouri: Tornadoes have led to multiple fatalities and significant property destruction.

U.S. Airstrikes on Houthi Rebels in Yemen

In response to attacks on ships in the Red Sea, the U.S. launched airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels, reportedly killing 53 individuals, including five children.

• Rebel Reaction: The Houthis have threatened to continue targeting U.S. vessels as long as military actions persist.
• Defense Secretary’s Commentary: Pete Hegseth assured that an “unrelenting missile campaign” would continue until the attacks cease.

NCAA Tournament Updates

March Madness is underway with significant developments in both men's and women's basketball brackets.

• Men's Bracket: Auburn Tigers secured the number one overall seed, alongside Duke, Florida, and Houston.
• Women's Bracket: UCLA tops as the number one seed, followed by South Carolina, Texas, and USC.
• Notable Achievements: Auburn's Southeastern Conference is fielding a record 14 schools in the tournament.

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Conclusion

Shemitah Basu concludes the episode by directing listeners to the Apple News app for further stories and upcoming narrated articles, emphasizing the breadth of coverage from local immigration crises to international conflicts and major sporting events.

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Notable Quotes

• Nikita Lovingk:
  “I've lost sleep. I've lost time. I'm, I'm, I'm trying to keep. I'm trying to hold it together. Her first nine days, she was held in solitary confinement, which was absolute torture for her” (03:26).

• Rebecca Burke's Father:
  “It's turned into a nightmare for her, for us” (04:17).

• Rebecca Burke's Father on D.C. Budget Cuts:
  “And frankly, House leadership and House Appropriations have not clearly explained the reason for it. And so it's a very tough situation right now for dc” (09:13).

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the critical discussions and emotional narratives presented in the episode, offering listeners a detailed overview of the pressing immigration issues, governmental budget conflicts, and other significant news events shaping the current landscape.

Transcript

[Shemitah Basu]

Good morning. It's Monday, March 17th. I'm Shemitah Basu. This is Apple News Today. On today's show, the wartime law that Trump used to deport hundreds of Venezuelans, How Congress put DC's budget in limbo and NCAA tournament brackets are but first, it's been just over a week since immigration authorities arrested Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Halil. Since then, it's been reported that more people who, like him were in the US legally, either through green cards or valid visas, have been detained or deported in recent weeks as well. Let's start in Boston with a doctor who was returning to the US from visiting family in Lebanon. Rasha Alawiya, who lives in Rhode island, was stopped at the airport where immigration authorities told her she would be deported. Her lawyer told the Providence Journal Alawiya initially had some challenges applying for her H1B visa, but those were resolved and she'd been cleared to return to the US legally when she was detained. The Journal reports that Alawiya had no access to her lawyer or phone. A federal judge issued an order to stop her deportation, but her flight back to Lebanon ended up taking off anyway. A spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection said their officers adhered to protocol. Also in Boston, the family of Fabian Schmidt, a green card holder from Luxembourg, said he was returning to the US From Luxembourg. His partner was waiting to pick him up for hours, but he never came out. When his family called authorities, they learned he had been arrested by immigration officials. His mother told GBH in Boston they stripped Schmidt naked and violently interrogated him. The family's been informed he's being held at an ICE facility. A customs spokesperson said Schmidt was detained because of a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge from 2015, a charge that was dropped. It is possible for green card holders like Schmidt to be stripped of their legal permanent residency status, but US Law states they need to appear before a judge before that can happen. Some people being arrested aren't legal residents, they're tourists. In San Diego, two German tourists, Jessica Broch and Lucas Silof, were apprehended separately as they each tried to return to the US From Mexico. Both had tourist visas. Silaf's fiance, Lennon Tyler, told the San Diego NBC affiliate they travel together often and never had issues re entering the U.S. before.

[Nikita Lovingk]

They look at his German passport and they become very aggressive and hostile almost immediately. Why are they throwing innocent German tourists in prisons? Why is Lucas sitting in a prison when he's done nothing wrong?

[Shemitah Basu]

Nikita Lovingk was traveling with Jessica Broch when she was detained, and she told NBC her arrest stemmed from Broche's plans to tattoo Loving. Broche is a tattoo artist, and she'd been working on various tattoos for Loving for years. Immigration authorities said that plan qualified as work, which meant Broche's tourist visa was invalid. But Loving told NBC Broch was planning to tattoo her as a gift with no money involved.

[Nikita Lovingk]

I've lost sleep. I've lost time. I'm, I'm, I'm trying to keep. I'm trying to hold it together. Her first nine days, she was held in solitary confinement, which was absolute torture for her. What really shocked me is just the powerlessness of it all.

[Shemitah Basu]

Then there's Rebecca Burke, a British tourist who was backpacking through the U.S. she tried to cross into Canada, the Seattle Times reports, but Canada rejected her because she planned to stay with a host family and do chores in exchange for food and lodging. Canadian authorities said she needed a work visa for that, not a tourist visa. But when Burke tried to go back to the U.S. her father says she was handcuffed and taken to a detention center. ICE officials say she was detained for violating terms and conditions of her admission, but they didn't immediately provide more information about what that meant. Burke's father spoke with Sky News.

[Rebecca Burke's Father]

It's turned into a nightmare for her, for us, for us.

[Nikita Lovingk]

And what's happened just seems so totally unbelievable.

[Shemitah Basu]

The Washington Post reports that the Trump administration's hardline stance on immigration has impacted tourism overall. The number of overseas visitors to the US fell 2.4% in February compared to last year, according to government data. And the research firm Tourism Economics estimates over the course of this year, tourism will decline by 5% as a result of Trump's polarizing policies and rhetoric that would have a significant economic impact. Potentially billions of dollars lost at a time when the US Economy is already on shaky ground due to Trump's tariffs and escalating trade wars. Let's stick with President Trump's crackdown on immigration and look at a specific law being cited in some deportation orders that hasn't been invoked since World War II. Over the weekend, Trump deported about 238 suspected members of the Venezuelan gang known as Trende Aragua, despite a court order blocking the flights. They were sent to El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele says they will be held in a terrorism confinement facility for one year. Immigration and Politics reporter Camilo Montoya Galvez said on CBS News. Trump's deportation directions to the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice cited the Alien enemies Act of 1798.

[Camilo Montoya Galvez]

It allows presidents to gain this extraordinary power to order the arrest, detention and removal of Non citizens ages 14 and older from countries that are deemed to be invading the US or orchestrating a predatory incursion into the country.

[Shemitah Basu]

The Alien Enemies act is a wartime power most famously used in the internment of Japanese Americans as well as Germans and Italians during World War II, and it gives the and government broad powers. It's only been used three times during the War of 1812 and both world wars. Here's Montoya Galvez again, this law would.

[Camilo Montoya Galvez]

Allow officials to process people subject to it without any of the due process protections outlined in U.S. immigration law, including the right to seek asylum. People would be able to be summarily detained and deported because they would be treated not as migrants facing deportation, but as enemy aliens.

[Shemitah Basu]

The White House argues it didn't violate a court order because it's up to the president to decide who poses a significant risk to the United States and whether to expel them. The aclu, in a challenge to Trump's actions, said the act shouldn't apply here since the US Is not at war with Venezuela. The timing of the flights could become a big issue. The New York Times reports the judge's ruling was issued shortly before 7pm on Saturday. The ruling even said, if necessary, planes should turn around, but it's unclear when exactly the planes landed in El Salvador. If it turns out the planes touched ground after the judge's order was filed, that could set up a constitutional showdown between the president and the judiciary. Now to Washington, where lawmakers in the Senate voted Friday to pass a Republican stopgap spending bill preventing a government shutdown. The bill will fund the government until September. Republicans say the bill won't affect social safety net programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, but the Congressional Budget Office has said this budget will be impossible to execute without cutting into at least one of those. The bill also targeted a bucket of spending that has long been treated as its own entity, the local budget for Washington, D.C. see, even though the District has its own mayor and council who enact their budget, Congress has ultimate authority over it because it's not a state. And in this federal spending bill, the budget for D.C. was cut by $1 billion, even though Congress had already approved that money several times and local officials had already started to spend it. On Friday, senators unanimously passed a separate piece of legislation to allow the District's 2025 budget to stand after D.C. leaders and residents protested the decision. But with Congress now in recess for the week, the House will not vote on it until next Monday at the earliest. So the District is still in limbo for now. We spoke with Washington Post reporter Megan Flynn about the impact this cut could have on the city residents and the tens of millions of tourists who visit the nation's capital every year.

[Rebecca Burke's Father]

It's the first time this has happened in about 20 years.

[Shemitah Basu]

Stopgap spending bills typically exclude money related to DC's budget, but in this bill, House Republicans removed that exception.

[Rebecca Burke's Father]

And frankly, House leadership and House Appropriations have not clearly explained the reason for it. And so it's a very tough situation right now for dc.

[Shemitah Basu]

We're already halfway through the fiscal year. So Flynn told us city officials will most likely have to resort to immediate layoffs and furloughs of essential workers, people like teachers, firefighters, police officers, public defenders and transit workers. The public transit System, which serves D.C. maryland and Virginia, could alone face a $200 million loss, according to the city.

[Rebecca Burke's Father]

They say that virtually every area of the government would be impacted, including public safety, including education, cleanliness, sanitation workers. Virtually all the services that you can think of would be expected to see cuts.

[Shemitah Basu]

Some lawmakers who want to see DC's budget restored are arguing making cuts there does effectively nothing to balance the federal budget or reduce federal spending.

[Rebecca Burke's Father]

DC's budget is overwhelmingly locally raised tax dollars. And so they argue, you know, why would Congress do this if they're not realizing any federal savings from this? This is, they say, would only hurt local dc. Really, the core areas that a lot of people, you know, care about in.

[Shemitah Basu]

Before we let you go, a few other stories we're following, starting with tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms tearing up the country. At least 40 people are dead, hundreds injured and many without power after a streak of damaging weather events. In Kansas, at least eight people were killed after dozens of vehicles were involved in a crash caused by a dust storm. Mississippi's governor said at least six people were killed by tornadoes in the state. And in Missouri, at least a dozen people died as twisters spread through the state overnight on Saturday. In international news, the US launched airstrikes against Iran backed Houthi rebels in Yemen over the weekend, killing 53 people, including five children. That's according to the rebels health ministry. The Trump administration said the strikes were in response to Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and also issued a warning to Iran. The Houthis have vowed to target US ships in the region as long as the strikes continue. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox Business there would be an unrelenting missile campaign until the attacks stopped and finally March Madness begins this week as the NCAA basketball tournament gets underway. In the men's bracket, the Auburn Tigers were selected the number one overall seed and are joined by Duke, Florida and Houston as the other top seeds. The Southeastern Conference, which Auburn is a member of, is fielding a record 14 schools. The 68 team bracket, meanwhile, on the women's side, UCLA is the number one overall seed with South Carolina, Texas and USC taking the other three number one spots. The men tip off on Thursday, the women on Friday. You can find all these stories and more in the Apple News app. And if you're already listening in the News app right now, we've got a narrated article coming up next. With health systems hollowed and public trust on the department, Klein New York magazine explains that our ability to fight a possible bird flu pandemic if things get worse may not be enough. If you're listening in the podcast app, follow Apple News plus Narrated to find that story. And I'll be back with the news tomorrow.