A German tattoo artist came to the US for a 3-week trip. She's now been in ICE detention for over a month
A German tattoo artist who tried to enter the United States from Mexico through the San Diego border has been in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention for over a month, according to a friend who witnessed her being detained.
Jessica Brösche, a Berlin-based tattoo artist, had been vacationing in Mexico when she decided to travel to the US from Tijuana with an American friend, Nikita Lofving. But at the San Ysidro port of entry immigration authorities took Brösche into custody.
'They took her right in front of me as we were walking over,' Lofving, a clothing designer based in Los Angeles, told CNN. 'Two hours passed, and then she called me and said, 'Hey, I'm gonna get deported back to Germany. I'll call you from Germany in a couple of days.''
The call was on January 25. Brösche has been in detention ever since, half a month past when she originally hoped to leave the US on February 15, Lofving says.
According to the ICE Detainee Locator, Brösche is currently in the Otay Mesa Detention Facility, in San Diego County, while she awaits deportation. CNN reached out to both ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to ask why she was detained.
A spokesperson from CBP told CNN affiliate KGTV that if a foreign national denied admission to the US is unable to book travel back to their country of origin 'he or she will be turned over to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).'
In a statement to KGTV, an ICE spokesperson wrote that Brösche is in detention due 'to the violation of the terms and conditions of her admission.'
Lovfing told CNN that her German friend was joining her in Los Angeles to tattoo her. She speculated that immigration officials may have misinterpreted Brösche's statements about the project as a declaration that she'd come to the US to work.
'I mean, she was coming to work, but not really for money,' Lofving said. 'We have an agreement between artists. She's one of my best friends. We've been working on this tattoo project on my body for the last five or six years, and in exchange, I make clothes for her.'
In a phone interview with KGTV last month, Brösche said that she had been kept in 'horrible' solitary confinement for eight days when she entered US custody.
'I just want to get home, you know? I'm really desperate,' Brösche told KGTV from Otay Mesa. 'I don't really understand why it's taking so long to get back to Germany.'
Lofving said that Brösche's friends and family are hoping that she'll be out of detention and on a flight back to Germany on March 11, and that her mother bought her a plane ticket home. They aren't sure whether ICE will let her out by then, however.
'We sent (Brösche) back the information for the tickets, and she told her ICE agent,' Lofving continued, saying the ICE agent had said, 'No, you have to get the ticket approved before you buy it.'
A spokesperson from the German Consulate in LA told CNN in an email that they are 'aware of the case and in close contact about it with the relevant US authorities as well as with family and close friends of the person concerned.'
CoreCivic, the private prison company that operates Otay Mesa, told CNN that the company 'does not know the circumstances of individuals when they are placed in our facilities.'
'Our responsibility is to care for each person respectfully and humanely while they receive the legal due process that they are entitled to,' said spokesperson Ryan Gustin.
Jeff Joseph, president-elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, told CNN that Brösche's case is 'fairly unusual.' Brösche, who entered the US via the Visa Waiver Program agreement that the US has with Germany and 40 other countries, would usually have been deported immediately rather than sit in detention for over a month, Joseph said.
By entering on the waiver program, a tourist waives their right to any kind of litigation, Joseph explained.
But normally, a tourist denied entry to the US would be allowed to withdraw their application for admission. 'Instead of being subjected to deportation proceedings, they're allowed to kind of get back on the airplane and turn around and go home, and that does not appear to have happened in this case,' Joseph continued.
In any case, Joseph said that Brösche's extended stay in Otay Mesa is 'extremely concerning.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Vance to visit Los Angeles on Friday amid tension over ICE raids
Vice President JD Vance is set to travel to Los Angeles on Friday amid tensions in the city over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Vance will 'tour a multi-agency Federal Joint Operations Center, a Federal Mobile Command Center, meet with leadership and Marines, and deliver brief remarks,' according to a readout of the vice president's travel plans. The trip comes after Los Angeles had been rocked with significant anti-ICE protests — which President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops and Marines to subdue — drawing condemnation from Democrats as the city has become a microcosm of the nationwide struggle over the administration's immigration policy. Democrats and activists have clashed with administration officials and federal law enforcement over the issue in recent weeks, leading to inflamed tensions and even direct altercations with law enforcement agents. In an unusual act of force against a sitting lawmaker, federal law enforcement officers forcibly removed and handcuffed California Sen. Alex Padilla while he attempted to question Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a press briefing last week, prompting outrage from others within the Democratic Party. 'If they can handcuff a U.S. Senator for asking a question, imagine what they will do to you," Newsom said of the incident at the time. Noem and other Republicans defended the actions, with the DHS secretary saying Padilla 'wanted the scene,' and House Speaker Mike Johnson calling on him to be censured. Earlier in the month, the president of the labor union SEIU California, David Huerta, was knocked to the ground and arrested at a protest against immigration sweeps in Los Angeles, causing injuries that lead to his brief hospitalization. Huerta was released from federal custody three days later on a $50,000 bond. The protests and unrest have since quieted — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass lifted a curfew earlier this week — but the troops have remained. And so has ICE. The Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday said ICE agents had appeared at Dodger Stadium and 'requested permission to access the parking lots,' but were denied entry by the organization. But ICE claimed it was 'never there' in a reply to the baseball team's post on X. In a separate reply, the official Department of Homeland Security account said the presence of federal agents 'had nothing to do with the Dodgers,' and claimed 'CBP vehicles were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement.' Later on Thursday, a federal appeals court indefinitely blocked an effort by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to retain control of the state's National Guard troops after Trump mobilized them to quell protests in Los Angeles, landing the Trump administration a win. The president touted the victory in a Truth Social post, claiming it as a 'BIG WIN' and slamming Newsom as 'incompetent and ill prepared.' 'The Judges obviously realized that Gavin Newscum is incompetent and ill prepared, but this is much bigger than Gavin, because all over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done,' Trump wrote. 'This is a Great Decision for our Country, and we will continue to protect and defend Law abiding Americans.'
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Agents, some in unmarked cars and street clothes, are arresting L.A. immigrants. Who are they?
Immigration arrests in Los Angeles have been headline news and the subject of legal disputes for the past few weeks, but Angelenos watching the drama play out on television and in their communities may be confused about who exactly is putting people in handcuffs and hauling them off. After all, some of the federal agents involved in the raids are in unmarked vehicles, without visible badges, wearing street clothes and covering their faces. Are they U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers or Homeland Security Investigations officials? What is the difference? All these federal agencies are branches of the Department of Homeland Security, which was created to combat terrorism in the United States in the wake of 9/11 terrorist attacks. Its duties include responding to natural disasters, terrorism and homeland security threats, enforcing trade laws (by checking goods coming into and out of the U.S.), as well as managing the flow of people and products at U.S. borders. Three branches of Homeland Security carry out the enforcement of these missions: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Federal agents were most recently sighted without identifying clothing or badges, sporting face coverings and armed with pistols at Dodger Stadium's entry gates on Thursday. When protesters learned of the officials' presence and demonstrated outside the stadium, they held signs that read "ICE out of L.A." But the officials outside the stadium were actually U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents who "were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement," the agency said. Confused? Immigration officials' way of identifying themselves when conducting operations is by verbally saying they're ICE or Homeland Security agents, Homeland Security officials told The Times in a statement. The federal agency also said immigration agents wear vests that say "ICE/ERO" or "Homeland Security" on them, and the name of their respective department is on either one or both sides of their vehicles. "When our heroic law enforcement officers conduct operations, they clearly identify themselves as law enforcement while wearing masks to protect themselves from being targeted by highly sophisticated gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13, criminal rings, murderers, and rapists," said Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of Homeland Security. So which immigration officials are in Los Angeles and what is their purpose here? Have U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials been in Los Angeles? At the start of the month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials raided a fashion warehouse in downtown Los Angeles and arrested more than 40 immigrant workers, sparking anti-immigration protests across the county. What is ICE's mission? ICE, along with the agency's Enforcement and Removal Operations officials, identify, arrest, detain and remove immigrants without authorization in the U.S., according to the federal agency's website. ERO agents target public safety threats, the website states, such as convicted criminal undocumented immigrants, gang members and those who "illegally re-entered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges." Read more: What businesses are the feds targeting during L.A. immigration sweeps? Here's what we know Have Homeland Security Investigations officials been in Los Angeles? Two months before immigration officials began aggressive raids across Los Angeles, Homeland Security Investigations officers took part in two separate arrests involving people suspected of being in the country without authorization. In May, HSI officials raided a nightclub and arrested 36 Chinese and Taiwanese individuals there. The location of the club was not disclosed. The officials were also involved in arresting 12 Mexican citizens, suspected of being unlawfully in the U.S. after traveling in a small boat from Mexico to Long Beach. What is HSI's mission? HSI is an agency within the Department of Homeland Security and a branch within Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Homeland Security Investigations focuses on investigating crime "on a global scale — at home, abroad and online," according to the Homeland Security website. This department conducts federal criminal investigations into the illegal movement of people, goods, money, drugs, weapons, and illegal technology exports and intellectual property crime into and out of the United States. Officials also investigate crimes such as child exploitation, human trafficking, financial fraud and scams. Read more: Federal officials arrived, denied entry at L.A. schools amid immigration enforcement fears Have U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials been in Los Angeles? On Thursday, McLaughlin confirmed that CBP officials 'arrested 30 illegal aliens in Hollywood, California, and 9 illegal aliens in San Fernando and Pacoima.' In Hollywood, officers raided the parking lot of a Home Depot where laborers and food vendors worked. What is CBP's mission? U.S. Customs and Border Patrol maintains traffic at checkpoints along highways leading from border areas, conducting city patrols, transportation check and anti-smuggling operations, according to its website. It monitors international boundaries and coastlines in areas of Border Patrol jurisdiction to intercept illegal entry and smuggling of unauthorized individuals into the U.S. CBP officials carry out traffic checks on major highways leading away from the border to detect and apprehend unauthorized individuals into the United States and detect illegal narcotics. There are two other federal agencies on the streets: Officials vowed to send at least 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles. So far, they have mainly protected federal buildings. It's unclear how many are now on the ground. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided Thursday to leave troops in Los Angeles in the hands of the Trump administration while California's objections are litigated in federal court. California officials argued the National Guard was not needed. The federal government has also deployed some U.S. Marines to Los Angeles. The U.S. Northern Command, which oversees troops based in the United States, said the Marines will work with National Guard troops under 'Task Force 51' — the military's designation of the Los Angeles forces. The Marines, like the Guard, they said, 'have been trained in de-escalation, crowd control and rules for the use of force.' Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot told The Times earlier this month that the Marines in Los Angeles were limited in their authority, deployed only to defend federal property and federal personnel. They do not have arrest power, he said. Local officials have also opposed having Marines in L.A. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Agents, some in unmarked cars and street clothes, are arresting L.A. immigrants. Who are they?
Immigration arrests in Los Angeles have been headline news and the subject of legal disputes for the past few weeks, but Angelenos watching the drama play out on television and in their communities may be confused about who exactly is putting people in handcuffs and hauling them off. After all, some of the federal agents involved in the raids are in unmarked vehicles, without visible badges, wearing street clothes and covering their faces. Are they U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers or Homeland Security Investigations officials? What is the difference? All these federal agencies are branches of the Department of Homeland Security, which was created to combat terrorism in the United States in the wake of 9/11 terrorist attacks. Its duties include responding to natural disasters, terrorism and homeland security threats, enforcing trade laws (by checking goods coming into and out of the U.S.), as well as managing the flow of people and products at U.S. borders. Three branches of Homeland Security carry out the enforcement of these missions: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Federal agents were most recently sighted without identifying clothing or badges, sporting face coverings and armed with pistols at Dodger Stadium's entry gates on Thursday. When protesters learned of the officials' presence and demonstrated outside the stadium, they held signs that read "ICE out of L.A." But the officials outside the stadium were actually U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents who "were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement," the agency said. Confused? Immigration officials' way of identifying themselves when conducting operations is by verbally saying they're ICE or Homeland Security agents, Homeland Security officials told The Times in a statement. The federal agency also said immigration agents wear vests that say "ICE/ERO" or "Homeland Security" on them, and the name of their respective department is on either one or both sides of their vehicles. "When our heroic law enforcement officers conduct operations, they clearly identify themselves as law enforcement while wearing masks to protect themselves from being targeted by highly sophisticated gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13, criminal rings, murderers, and rapists," said Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of Homeland Security. So which immigration officials are in Los Angeles and what is their purpose here? Have U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials been in Los Angeles? At the start of the month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials raided a fashion warehouse in downtown Los Angeles and arrested more than 40 immigrant workers, sparking anti-immigration protests across the county. What is ICE's mission? ICE, along with the agency's Enforcement and Removal Operations officials, identify, arrest, detain and remove immigrants without authorization in the U.S., according to the federal agency's website. ERO agents target public safety threats, the website states, such as convicted criminal undocumented immigrants, gang members and those who "illegally re-entered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges." Read more: What businesses are the feds targeting during L.A. immigration sweeps? Here's what we know Have Homeland Security Investigations officials been in Los Angeles? Two months before immigration officials began aggressive raids across Los Angeles, Homeland Security Investigations officers took part in two separate arrests involving people suspected of being in the country without authorization. In May, HSI officials raided a nightclub and arrested 36 Chinese and Taiwanese individuals there. The location of the club was not disclosed. The officials were also involved in arresting 12 Mexican citizens, suspected of being unlawfully in the U.S. after traveling in a small boat from Mexico to Long Beach. What is HSI's mission? HSI is an agency within the Department of Homeland Security and a branch within Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Homeland Security Investigations focuses on investigating crime "on a global scale — at home, abroad and online," according to the Homeland Security website. This department conducts federal criminal investigations into the illegal movement of people, goods, money, drugs, weapons, and illegal technology exports and intellectual property crime into and out of the United States. Officials also investigate crimes such as child exploitation, human trafficking, financial fraud and scams. Read more: Federal officials arrived, denied entry at L.A. schools amid immigration enforcement fears Have U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials been in Los Angeles? On Thursday, McLaughlin confirmed that CBP officials 'arrested 30 illegal aliens in Hollywood, California, and 9 illegal aliens in San Fernando and Pacoima.' In Hollywood, officers raided the parking lot of a Home Depot where laborers and food vendors worked. What is CBP's mission? U.S. Customs and Border Patrol maintains traffic at checkpoints along highways leading from border areas, conducting city patrols, transportation check and anti-smuggling operations, according to its website. It monitors international boundaries and coastlines in areas of Border Patrol jurisdiction to intercept illegal entry and smuggling of unauthorized individuals into the U.S. CBP officials carry out traffic checks on major highways leading away from the border to detect and apprehend unauthorized individuals into the United States and detect illegal narcotics. There are two other federal agencies on the streets: Officials vowed to send at least 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles. So far, they have mainly protected federal buildings. It's unclear how many are now on the ground. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided Thursday to leave troops in Los Angeles in the hands of the Trump administration while California's objections are litigated in federal court. California officials argued the National Guard was not needed. The federal government has also deployed some U.S. Marines to Los Angeles. The U.S. Northern Command, which oversees troops based in the United States, said the Marines will work with National Guard troops under 'Task Force 51' — the military's designation of the Los Angeles forces. The Marines, like the Guard, they said, 'have been trained in de-escalation, crowd control and rules for the use of force.' Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot told The Times earlier this month that the Marines in Los Angeles were limited in their authority, deployed only to defend federal property and federal personnel. They do not have arrest power, he said. Local officials have also opposed having Marines in L.A. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
