Brits heading through to America are facing ‘aggressive’ questioning at the border, as custom officials enforce enhanced vetting’ following Trump’s immigration crackdown
Donald Trump has introduced a US immigration crackdown, which will impact Brits as border guards “aggressively question holidaymakers”.
British tourists planning trips to the US are being warned of increasingly tough questioning at border control, which could see them barred from entry or even detained amidst President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. US border officials have been seen using more aggressive methods with holidaymakers and legal immigrants after the Trump administration called for “enhanced vetting”, according to The New York Times.
As a result, the UK Foreign Office has revised its travel advice for citizens heading to America, to include a warning that anyone found breaking its rules “may be liable to arrest or detention”.
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Previously, the guidance only warned that: “The authorities in the US set and enforce entry rules.”
The expanded warning from the Foreign Office follows suspicion that some travellers have been turned away for expressing anti-Trump views, with a French scientist allegedly denied entry after officials discovered ‘hateful’ messages criticising the President on his phone, reports MailOnline.
In addition, last month British artist Becky Burke was detained in a cell in Tacoma, Washington, after being classified as an “illegal alien”. The 28-year-old was travelling and attempted to cross the border into Canada with an “incorrect visa” on February 26, US authorities claimed.
Homeland Security Department spokeswoman Tricia Mclaughlin told the New York Times commented: “The Trump administration is enforcing immigration laws — something the previous administration failed to do. Those who violate these laws will be processed, detained and removed as required.”
US customs officials are allowed to stop and search people attempting to enter the country, however they are not allowed to search people or conduct inspections “based on your religion, race, national origin, gender, ethnicity or political beliefs”.
The rise in tourists being detained is part of Trump’s ‘Securing Our Borders’ executive order, which was signed in hours after his inauguration.
Hilton Beckham, Assistant Commissioner of Public Affairs for the US Customs and Border Protection, told MailOnline: “If individuals violate the terms of a lawful immigration status and attempt to re-enter the country, officers will take appropriate action. Federal privacy restrictions prohibit CBP from discussing specific cases.”
Beckham added that all people arriving at a port of entry in the US are subject to inspection, on a case-by-case basis. “As part of their critical national security mission, CBP officers routinely determine the admissibility of foreign nationals using longstanding U.S. immigration law. If an individual has material discovered on their electronic media that raises flags during an inspection, it can result in further analysis. Claims that such decisions are politically motivated are completely unfounded,” they added.
Germany’s Foreign Ministry has also updated its travel advice to warn citizens that holding a valid visa or ESTA authorisation does not guarantee entry into the country. The ministry is investigating a case to assist a citizen who was stopped at the border.
