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Green Card Holder Detained, Stripped, and Interrogated by US Immigration Officials

Fabian Schmidt, a German national and US resident since 2007, was detained at Logan Airport, raising concerns over escalating immigration enforcement policies.

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Inset, a photo of Fabian Schmidt, a U.S. Green Card holder detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week. Main image, an exterior view of ICE headquarters is seen on July 6, 2018 in Washington, D.C.
A German national was detained by ICE despite holding a green card (Representational image)
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Overview

  • Fabian Schmidt, a 34-year-old German national and US green card holder, was detained by ICE at Logan Airport upon returning from Luxembourg on March 7.
  • Schmidt was reportedly stripped naked, subjected to violent interrogation, and transferred to the Donald W. Wyatt detention facility in Rhode Island.
  • Officials flagged Schmidt's recently renewed green card, citing prior legal issues, including a dismissed marijuana charge, a decade-old DUI, and a missed court hearing in 2022 due to a notification error.
  • US Customs and Border Protection denied wrongdoing, stating that individuals with flagged records may face detention, though Schmidt's family insists he has no ongoing legal issues.
  • The incident has drawn widespread outrage, with critics highlighting an increase in detentions of legal permanent residents under stricter immigration policies.