Germany Sounds Alarm as Trump Border Policies Impact Its Traveling Citizens
Germany is monitoring the treatment of its citizens entering the United States after three nationals were detained in separate incidents, amid growing international concern over President Donald Trump’s controversial immigration enforcement actions.
“We are trying to assess whether this represents a change in American immigration policy or whether these are isolated cases,” foreign ministry spokesperson Sebastian Fischer told reporters on Monday. “Once we have a clear picture, we will then, if necessary, adjust our travel and security advice.”
The detentions come as Trump has implemented what critics call draconian immigration measures, including his unprecedented invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, a centuries-old law not used since World War II that grants him sweeping deportation powers.
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One German national remains in US custody. Fabian Schmidt, a green card holder who has lived in the United States since 2007, was arrested at Boston’s Logan International Airport last week after returning from Luxembourg, despite his legal permanent resident status. He is currently being held at a detention facility in Rhode Island without a clear explanation for his detention.
Two other German tourists were detained and subsequently deported. Lucas Sielaff, 25, spent two weeks in detention after authorities abruptly canceled his entry permit at the Mexico-US border in February. Berlin-based tattoo artist Jessica Brösche, 29, was similarly detained in late January when attempting to enter legally with an American friend.
The incidents appear to reflect a broader trend, as the source material notes that “tourists from other Western countries have reportedly also been detained by US immigration authorities recently.” The detentions coincide with Trump’s intensified border enforcement initiatives, which he emphasized throughout his campaign and began implementing through executive orders signed in January.
Earlier this month, Germany issued a travel advisory for transgender and nonbinary citizens planning US visits, specifically addressing President Trump’s executive order banning the State Department from issuing passports with “X” gender markers. The Lesbian and Gay Federation of Germany characterized the policy as “erasing legal recognition of trans identities” and “endangering the rights and safety of trans and nonbinary individuals” and called on Germany and the European Union to apply diplomatic pressure.
“Democracy and human rights cannot be selectively defended — when trans rights are attacked, all human rights are at risk,” the advocacy group said, urging German authorities to “oppose these policies with all available means.”
Tourists from most European countries, including Germany, typically enjoy visa-free access to the United States for visits up to 90 days, a longstanding practice now complicated by what appears to be an increasingly restrictive border enforcement regime.
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