SAN DIEGO (AP) - Lennon Tyler, a U.S. citizen, and her German fiancé, Lucas Sielaff, enjoyed taking road trips to Mexico during his visits to the United States. However, their experience took a dire turn upon their return from Tijuana last month. At the U.S. border, agents detained Tyler, handcuffing her and chaining her to a bench. Sielaff faced accusations of violating the terms of his 90-day tourist permit, which led to his detention at a U.S. immigration center for 16 days before he was permitted to return home to Germany.
Since President Donald Trump took office, incidents like these have garnered attention, with several tourists being detained at U.S. border crossings. Other cases include a German woman, Jessica Brösche, who was held for over six weeks, and a backpacker from Wales who spent nearly three weeks in detention in the U.S. These detentions often occur without clear explanations, even when the tourists offer to leave voluntarily.
Pedro Rios, director of the American Friends Service Committee, a nonprofit organization that supports migrants, noted that he has never witnessed such treatment of travelers from Western Europe and Canada, nations with strong historical ties to the United States. Observing recent trends, he suggested that a more aggressive anti-immigrant atmosphere has been evolving. U.S. authorities did not respond to inquiries regarding the number of tourists detained or the reasons behind these decisions.
The detentions have triggered anxiety, particularly as discussions concerning federal travel policies continue amid tensions in U.S. immigration enforcement. The University of California, Los Angeles has warned foreign-born students to be cautious about non-essential travel, as re-entry requirements may change while they are abroad.
Both Sielaff and Brösche were part of the Visa Waiver Program, which allows certain travelers from select countries to enter the U.S. for business or leisure without obtaining a visa for up to 90 days. However, even with authorization, they can be barred from entry at the discretion of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Sielaff arrived in the U.S. on January 27 and traveled to Tijuana in mid-February to attend to his fiancé's dog, who required surgery. Upon returning on February 18, Sielaff faced aggressive questioning from a border agent, leading to his detention. Despite claiming he did not reside in the U.S. and had no criminal history, he was subjected to searches and ultimately placed in a holding cell for two days before being transferred to Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego. There, Sielaff shared a cramped cell and expressed feelings of anger and confusion over the lack of communication regarding his detention.
After learning he needed to book a flight home at his own expense, Tyler paid nearly $2,744 for Sielaff to return to Germany. Tyler described the treatment of her fiancé at the border as an abuse of power by Border Patrol. Another case involved Jessica Brösche, who was detained in a similar manner, and upon her family's intervention and assistance from community members, she returned home on March 11.
In addition to these cases, another tourist from Wales, Becky Burke, and Canadian visa holder Jasmine Mooney were also detained under various circumstances, further highlighting the distressing trends at the U.S. border. Concerns have been raised regarding the unpredictability of U.S. immigration policies, which are affecting tourists and foreign nationals alike.
Following the ordeal, Tyler plans to pursue legal action against the U.S. government, while Sielaff is reconsidering their wedding plans in Las Vegas due to the psychological impact of their experience, including nightmares and the consideration of therapy. Both express deep concern about the current climate for travelers to the U.S., insisting that it has become a treacherous environment for tourists.
