“Never, even in our wildest nightmares, we would have thought of finding ourselves in such a situation”, tells Uma to the Danish media. After a month and a half spent in new Zealand, the two travelers wanted to continue their world tour by going to the paradise archipelago of the Pacific. young women thought they had taken all the necessary precautions by filling out, several months ago, the ESTA form-request for a travel authorization in the United States.
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“Incorrect travel pattern”
Once landed in Honolulu, the Danes therefore justified their presence against customs officials: volunteering in a organic farm. “As soon as I mention the volunteer work, the agent says to me:” You can just stop talking “”, Relates Uma. It was no longer necessary to the border civil servant to see their illegality on American soil. In the United States, volunteering requires more than a simple Esta: a work visa. Young women say they have never been informed of this detail by their volunteer organization and not have found this indication on American government sites.
As the Danish media DR said, the American Ministry of Foreign Affairs changed its travel guidelines on Monday, April 28, specifying that it was not possible to enter the territory with an esta “For reasons of study, work or to lead a business. This also applies to volunteer work.” “Please note that entry to the United States can be refused or be expelled if, for example, you have indicated an incorrect travel pattern”, also specifies the new government note.
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“I cracked”
Ignoring this important nuance, Frida and Uma were then led in a waiting room at the airport, where they waited about eight hours. Unable to be expelled immediately to their country of origin-the next flight to New Zealand being only in three days-they were sent to the Federal Honolulu detention center. Handcuffed, hands in the back, at the back of a police van. “When I saw Uma handcuffed, I cracked”, relate Frida.
In the detention center, they held a newspaper to pass the time and tell these terrible adventures. After three days and after countless safety procedures, Uma and Frida, still handcuffed, ended up being brought back to Honolulu airport and escorted to the door of their plane bringing them back to New Zealand. The Danish Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the two Danish young people have been denied entry to the United States and have provided consular assistance on this subject.
“The arrest and detention of UMA and her friend are probably the result of the granting by the Trump administration of arrest quotas at each immigration and customs office in the United States”, Analysis for the media Dr Dr Lawyer specializing in refugees and immigration to the University of Hawaii, Esther Sungeun Yoo. She claims to have noticed higher levels of arrests and detention of travelers at the airport since the introduction of arrest quotas.
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An ubiquitous story
Frida and Uma are not the only ones to have refused their entry on American soil. In March, a French researcher was repressed from the United States due to critical messages which he issued towards the American president. An ubiquitous but very real story.
From the first day of his inauguration, on January 20, Donald Trump signed a decree ordering, among other things, maximum control at the borders of foreigners wishing to enter the United States. According to the decree, all visa programs must also be assessed to guarantee that they are not used to “Bringing security, economics, politics, culture or other national interests of the United States”.
“It is an unusual interpretation of the immigration authorities to consider volunteer work as a real work, Note the Hawaiian lawyer, about the setbacks of the two Danes. We had never seen this before. “
