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

Release Date: March 17, 2025
Host: Shemitah Basu

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 The discussion prominently features the use of outdated wartime laws by the Trump administration, the precarious state of Washington D.C.'s budget, and concludes with highlights from recent national and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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.