Becky Burke, a 28-year-old Welsh backpacker, has returned to the UK after being detained in the US for 19 days. Her father, Paul Burke, confirmed that Becky had been denied entry at the US-Canada border and was held in a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing centre. She was eventually reunited with her family and friends at Heathrow Airport.
After facing a combination of media, social media, and diplomatic pressure, Becky was released. She had been on a “trip of a lifetime” backpacking across North America when she was detained. Becky had described the conditions inside the ICE centre as “horrendous” during her stay.
While in detention, Becky had to see a doctor due to a digestive problem, likely exacerbated by her vegan diet. Paul Burke mentioned that his daughter had been “quite emotional” during her time in detention. A fundraising campaign helped cover legal fees and the flight back home, with any surplus to be donated to charities in the Seattle area assisting people in similar situations.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) had confirmed its support for Becky as a British national. Despite the challenges she faced, Becky’s story sheds light on the experiences of travelers navigating immigration policies and border control measures while abroad
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