Cartoonist R.E. “Becky” Burke is back home in England after being detained by ICE for 19 days. , and her father Paul has posted an update on Facebook, thanking those around the world who reached out to help, including strangers. Burke was detained by US immigrations officials while on a backpacking trip around North America after confusion about her VISA. Paul Burke asked the statement be shared, and here it is:
Becky Burke is Home After ICE Detention Nightmare
After 19 harrowing days in ICE detention due to a visa mix-up, our daughter Becky has finally returned home to the UK. Instead of allowing her to take an immediate flight back, Homeland Security detained her in handcuffs at a Tacoma, WA facility under harsh conditions. The current immigration crackdown and systemic delays exacerbated her ordeal, worsened by a shortage of immigration judges. Becky’s nightmare ended on March 18th, and she is now beginning to recover.
The Light of Kindness and Compassion
Throughout this ordeal, we were overwhelmed by the incredible kindness of friends, strangers, experts, politicians, and the media. From visitors making long journeys to see Becky, to generous donations for necessities, we cannot express our gratitude enough. This experience has reaffirmed our faith in humanity—showing that even in the darkest times, compassion shines through.
A Word of Caution for Travellers
Becky’s story serves as a warning to anyone planning extended trips to the USA: always triple-check visa requirements and confirm them with the US Embassy. Print any documentation for added security.
Becky is also planning to produce a graphic novel highlighting her story and how it is not an isolated case. She wants to support her fellow detainees who are still locked up, a group of women who helped Becky get through this horrible experience, despite their own grim situation.When she feels able to she will start posting again on her instagram page @R.E.Burke
Frequently Asked Questions
Did she overstay the 90 day limit on the ESTA tourist visa?
No. She had only been in the USA for 50 days when she had planned to travel by bus to Canada, she was planning to spend 2 months in Canada and then fly home to the UK.
Did she break the rules of the ESTA?
The ESTA is for tourists only. For work or study a specific visa is required. Becky did a lot of research before she went and what she had planned was classed as tourism. This was accepted when she entered the US on 7th January. It was also accepted in 2023 when she spent two weeks in San Francisco, with a host family. On the 26th February, US border officers suddenly decided staying with host families and joining in with household chores was now classed as work. Our US Immigration Lawyer said they got their definition of work wrong.
Was she given a chance to return to the UK at her own cost?
No, this was not offered at the border despite this being the usual protocol for tourists. ICE had the chance to offer this at any stage during her detention, her parents even had a flight home booked for her at one point, in the hope they would let her take it, but they didn’t.
Does she have a criminal record?
No. She also has many people who testify to her good character and her gentle soul.
Was she allowed to let family know when she was being deported?
No. One of the other detainees had to call us to say she had left. Even the British Consulate were not told that she had boarded the flight. We were only certain when she arrived at Heathrow.
Was she treated with ‘dignity and respect’ as written in ICE policy.
No. She was handcuffed when she was transferred from the border to the facility. When inside the facility ICE did not communicate where she was in the process, all her possessions were confiscated, lights were on 24/7 and there were four head counts each day during which they were forced stay on their bunk for at least an hour. When she was eventually transferred to Seattle airport to fly home she was taken in leg and waist chains and handcuffs, and was escorted to the plane.
It’s a chilling detail here that a harmless young woman was put on a plane in handcuffs and shackles, and treated like a dangerous criminal. Immigration officers aren’t idiots – they know who is a threat and who isn’t, but the threat here is to other travelers – letting them know that even innocent people can be herded into cells and detained for weeks as part of tis “crack down.”
A post on R. E. Burke’s story on Down the Tubes mentions other examples of foreign visitors to the US being detained and sent back for reasons that would not have occurred just a few months ago. Among them, an aging punk band from the UK who were sent back for unknown reasons – perhaps their speaking out against the current US regime. The bass player of the Subs mentioned “I’m kind of proud of myself for being thrown out of America at the age of 67,” so perhaps rebellion is back in style.
Foreign cartoonists are already cancelling plans to attend shows in the US. When visas that were being accepted in the past are being questioned, and questions lead to detention, the risk is more than theoretical. Germany and the UK have issued travel advisories for those going to the US, and the situation does look like it will be improving any time soon.
Still, we should take from this story the same positive gleanings that Paul Burke did: good people reached out and helped other good people. A GoFundMe to help with legal bills raised a sizable amount of money. Important art is often born out of struggle, and we all wish that Burke’s detention didn’t happen, while hoping that the work that comes out of it, a planned graphic novel will get the attention it deserves. The struggle is real, and we must all face the challenge.
English (US) · 