The household of a British girl detained within the US for 3 weeks due to a visa mix-up say she has left the immigration detention centre and are hopeful she is on her manner dwelling.
Rebecca Burke, 28, a graphic artist from Monmouthshire, was making an attempt to cross from the US state of Washington into Canada when she was refused entry.
Canadian authorities instructed her to return to the US and fill in new paperwork earlier than returning.
Nevertheless, when she tried to re-enter the US, she was handcuffed and put in a cell earlier than being taken to Tacoma Northwest detention facility.
Her father, Paul Burke, beforehand mentioned she was being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “in horrendous circumstances” and had not had entry to authorized illustration.
Talking on Tuesday, Burke mentioned the household hoped she was on her manner dwelling. “We’re hoping she is, we will’t ensure. The one factor we could be positive of is she left the detention centre yesterday afternoon, however as a result of ICE don’t talk very effectively and took her cellphone off her, we will’t ensure [that she is coming home],” he mentioned, including that the household had been feeling emotional after the ordeal.
Burke was planning to stick with a bunch household the place she would perform home chores in trade for lodging and was instructed she ought to have utilized for a working visa as a substitute of a vacationer visa.
She had beforehand been staying with a bunch household in Portland, Oregon, below an analogous association after spending time sightseeing in New York Metropolis, the place she first arrived from the UK firstly of the yr.
The household raised almost £10,000 on-line to contribute in direction of Burke’s authorized charges, residing prices and return flight dwelling, and have promised to donate any surplus to charities in Seattle supporting people in related conditions.
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