Comic Creator RE Burke: Her Visa Story

 

Cartoonists Rights posts that 28 year old British cartoonist RE "Becky" Burke, who was detained by ICE for over two weeks, has now been released and is back home. 

Cartoonists Rights links to a story by John Freeman at Downthetubes:

"The family of comic creator RE Burke, aka Becky Burke, have issued a detailed statement about her recent detention nightmare in the United States, asking for it to be shared so that the many thousands who offered support after her family’s appeal for Becky’s return can see it.

"'We want everyone to know how grateful we are for their support, prayers and help in raising the profile. It is the reason she is home with us now, thank you,' they explain.

"As we previously reported, comic creator RE Burke, aka Becky Burke, is home after her detention nightmare in the United States, detained by the United States by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for over two weeks for travelling with wrong visa. She is now back in the UK.

"Becky, 28, was denied entry into Washington State after US immigration officials accused her of travelling on the wrong visa, her plight prompting a massive campaign to free her, which we reported here.

"A GoFundMe campagn fund raised over £9000 to cover legal Becky’s costs. No more donations are being taken. Any surplus will be donated to charities in the Seattle area helping people in similar situations.

"In normal times, R. E. Burke, also known as Becky Burke, is a non-stop artist and creator from Monmouthshire, who studied English and Philosophy at Bristol University, and then a postgraduate degree in Publishing Media at Oxford Brookes. Despite never studying art professionally, she has developed her craft persistently and with determination, alongside her ongoing education.

"After finishing her masters, Becky moved to London, where she keeps working on new artistic projects as much as possible. She also wrote for the British comic news site Broken Frontier as Rebecca Burke between 2020 and 2023.

"The family have asked their statement, posted here on Facebook, be shared and we are reproducing it in full, below.

"'Please share with your own networks so that the many thousands who offered support after our appeal for Becky’s return can see it,' the family have asked. 'We want everyone to know how grateful we are for their support, prayers and help in raising the profile. It is the reason she is home with us now, thank you.

"'After 19 harrowing days in ICE detention due to a visa mix-up, our daughter Becky has finally returned home to the UK. Instead of allowing her to take an immediate flight back, Homeland Security detained her in handcuffs at a Tacoma, WA facility under harsh conditions. The current immigration crackdown and systemic delays exacerbated her ordeal, worsened by a shortage of immigration judges. Becky’s nightmare ended on March 18th, and she is now beginning to recover.

"'The Light of Kindness and Compassion

"'Throughout this ordeal, we were overwhelmed by the incredible kindness of friends, strangers, experts, politicians, and the media. From visitors making long journeys to see Becky, to generous donations for necessities, we cannot express our gratitude enough. This experience has reaffirmed our faith in humanity – showing that even in the darkest times, compassion shines through.

"'A Word of Caution for Travellers

"'Becky’s story serves as a warning to anyone planning extended trips to the USA: always triple-check visa requirements and confirm them with the US Embassy. Print any documentation for added security.

"'Becky is also planning to produce a graphic novel highlighting her story and how it is not an isolated case. She wants to support her fellow detainees who are still locked up, a group of women who helped Becky get through this horrible experience, despite their own grim situation.

"'When she feels able to she will start posting again on her instagram page @R.E.Burke

"'Frequently Asked Questions

"'Did she overstay the 90 day limit on the ESTA tourist visa?

"'No. She had only been in the USA for 50 days when she had planned to travel by bus to Canada, she was planning to spend 2 months in Canada and then fly home to the UK.

"'Did she break the rules of the ESTA?

"'The ESTA is for tourists only. For work or study a specific visa is required. Becky did a lot of research before she went and what she had planned was classed as tourism. This was accepted when she entered the US on 7th January. It was also accepted in 2023 when she spent two weeks in San Francisco, with a host family. On the 26th February, US border officers suddenly decided staying with host families and joining in with household chores was now classed as work. Our US Immigration Lawyer said they got their definition of work wrong.

"'Was she given a chance to return to the UK at her own cost?

"'No, this was not offered at the border despite this being the usual protocol for tourists. ICE had the chance to offer this at any stage during her detention, her parents even had a flight home booked for her at one point, in the hope they would let her take it, but they didn’t.

"'Does she have a criminal record?

"'No. She also has many people who testify to her good character and her gentle soul.

"'Was she allowed to let family know when she was being deported?

"'No. One of the other detainees had to call us to say she had left. Even the British Consulate were not told that she had boarded the flight. We were only certain when she arrived at Heathrow.

"'Was she treated with ‘dignity and respect’ as written in ICE policy.

"'No. She was handcuffed when she was transferred from the border to the facility. When inside the facility ICE did not communicate where she was in the process, all her possessions were confiscated, lights were on 24/7 and there were four head counts each day during which they were forced stay on their bunk for at least an hour. When she was eventually transferred to Seattle airport to fly home she was taken in leg and waist chains and handcuffs, and was escorted to the plane.'"

"We wish Becky and her family well after this ordeal."

Freeman writes that "some of its [ICE] operations are run by private companies, including CoreCivic and GEO Group, who, the Open Secrets web site previously reported, receive government funding based on the number of people they detain, and, presumably, why they lobby for stricter immigration policies."

The article continues, detailing other foreign nationals detained by ICE, here.