Overview

• Fabian Schmidt, a German national and US green card holder, was detained by immigration authorities at Logan International Airport on March 7 upon returning from Luxembourg.
• Schmidt's family alleges he was stripped naked, subjected to harsh interrogation, and placed in a cold shower before being transferred to an ICE detention facility in Rhode Island.
• His green card, legally reissued in 2023 after being lost, was reportedly flagged due to a missed court appearance in 2022 for a misdemeanor case he was unaware of.
• Schmidt's detention follows a broader trend of increased scrutiny and detention of green card holders and visa holders under the Trump administration's immigration policies.
• The incident has drawn criticism from advocates and raised fears about the treatment of legal residents, with Schmidt's family seeking assistance from the German consulate for his release.