March 19, Germany: Berlin is investigating potential shifts in U.S. immigration policy following the detention and alleged mistreatment of Fabian Schmidt, a 34-year-old German national and permanent U.S. resident. Schmidt was apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at Boston’s Logan International Airport on March 7, 2025, upon returning from Luxembourg to his home in Nashua, New Hampshire.
According to his mother, Astrid Senior, Schmidt was subjected to a prolonged and harsh interrogation. She reported that her son was “violently interrogated” for hours, stripped naked, placed in a cold shower by two officials, and then returned to a chair. Senior also claimed that CBP agents pressured Schmidt to relinquish his green card, deprived him of adequate food and water, and denied him access to his anxiety and depression medications.
Schmidt, an electrical engineer, immigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 2007 with his mother, obtaining permanent resident status in 2008. He renewed his green card last year and has no active legal issues, although he faced misdemeanor charges approximately a decade ago.
Senior expressed profound concern over her son’s situation, stating, “I feel helpless. Absolutely helpless.” She recounted that after his detention, Schmidt was placed on a mat in a brightly lit room with other individuals, received minimal sustenance, and was denied his prescribed medications. She did not hear from him until March 11, when he was hospitalized after collapsing.
In response to these allegations, a CBP spokesperson refuted the claims, labeling them as “blatantly false,” but did not specify which aspects were disputed. The spokesperson added, “When an individual is found with drug-related charges and tries to reenter the country, officers will take proper action.”
Schmidt’s legal representative, Steven Keller, indicated that his client is currently in a state of legal uncertainty while detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Keller criticized the interrogation methods employed, asserting that “unnecessary tactics” and “duress” were used to coerce Schmidt into signing away his green card, which he refused to do.
The German government has acknowledged Schmidt’s case, along with those of two other German citizens who were detained upon attempting to enter the U.S. and have since returned to Germany. Sebastian Fischer, a German government spokesperson, stated, “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.” He added that the government is “monitoring the situation” and collaborating with other European Union countries to determine whether these incidents are isolated or indicative of a broader change in U.S. immigration policy.
The other two German nationals affected are Jessica Brösche, a 29-year-old tattoo artist from Berlin, and Lucas Sielaff, 25, from Saxony-Anhalt. Both possessed valid tourist visas for the U.S. and have now returned to Germany. Sielaff’s fiancée, Lennon Tyler, reported that he was detained for two weeks after mistakenly answering a question about his residence due to his limited English proficiency. Brösche was reportedly detained for over six weeks, including nine days in solitary confinement, a claim denied by the company operating the detention center.
These incidents have raised alarms among German officials, prompting investigations into potential changes in U.S. immigration enforcement. The German Foreign Office is providing consular support to the affected individuals and emphasizes the expectation that all countries, including the U.S., ensure that prison conditions comply with international human rights standards.
Schmidt’s case is part of a broader pattern of foreign nationals, including visa and green card holders, facing detention and alleged mistreatment by U.S. border officials under the current administration’s stringent immigration policies. Other reported cases involve a Canadian actor detained over an incomplete visa and a British woman held for three weeks due to a visa mix-up. These developments have sparked international concern regarding the treatment of foreign nationals and the enforcement practices of U.S. immigration authorities.
As Schmidt remains in detention, his family and legal counsel continue to seek clarity on his status and the reasons behind his apprehension. The German government, alongside other EU nations, is closely monitoring these cases to assess any implications for their citizens traveling to or residing in the United States. Keep Reading Questiqa.com.
Get more News Headlines On Our Social Platforms And Do Follow.
About The Author
