Fabian Schmidt, a German national and permanent resident of the United States, was reportedly subjected to severe treatment by US border officials upon his return to the country on March 7. Schmidt, who has held a valid green card since 2008 and renewed it last year, was detained at Boston's Logan Airport before being taken to a detention center in Rhode Island. His mother, Astrid Senior, expressed her shock and confusion over the incident, describing her son's ordeal as a "violent interrogation."
Schmidt, who had been visiting Luxembourg before his return, faced unexpected scrutiny from US immigration agents. According to his mother, two officials stripped him naked and placed him in a cold shower during the interrogation process. Despite having no active legal issues, Schmidt's previous misdemeanour charges from about a decade ago were reportedly brought up during the questioning.
Astrid Senior voiced her concerns and distress regarding her son's detention. She stated that she felt "absolutely helpless" in the situation and could not comprehend why her son was being treated in such a manner. Senior also claimed that the agents pressured Schmidt to relinquish his green card, adding further to her worries.
Schmidt's ordeal did not end with the interrogation. On March 11, he collapsed and was subsequently transferred to a hospital. He remained in detention in Rhode Island, far from his intended destination of New Hampshire, where he resides. The reasons for his detention remain unclear to both Schmidt and his family.
A statement from Sebastian Fischer highlighted that Schmidt's case was not isolated.
"We have recently become aware of three cases in which German citizens were unable to enter the USA and were detained for deportation when they entered the country," – Sebastian Fischer
Fischer also emphasized the expectation that international human rights standards should be upheld in detention conditions.
"It is clear that we expect from our partners, as well as from all other countries in the world, that prison conditions comply with international human rights standards and that detainees are treated accordingly," – Sebastian Fischer
Schmidt's situation underscores ongoing concerns about the treatment of foreign nationals by US immigration authorities. Despite holding valid legal status, Schmidt's experience raises questions about procedural fairness and the conditions faced by detainees.