In a harrowing ordeal that has raised alarms about U.S. immigration practices, British comic creator R.E. Burke, also known as Becky Burke, was detained for 19 days in harsh conditions after being deemed an illegal alien. Burke's experience has not only led to a ten-year ban from the U.S. but has also prompted the UK government to revise its travel advice for tourists visiting America.
Burke's troubles began on February 26, 2025, when she attempted to cross into Canada from the U.S. while traveling as a backpacker. Canadian border officials determined that her living arrangements, which involved staying with a host family in exchange for domestic chores, required her to have a work visa instead of a tourist visa. They sent her back to the U.S., where American officials classified her as an illegal alien.
Prior to her detainment, Burke had been traveling in the U.S. since January 7, 2025, staying with various host families and enjoying her time sightseeing in cities like New York and Portland. She had previously traveled to the U.S. in 2022 without any issues, always adhering to the rules regarding her visa. However, in this instance, her situation took a drastic turn.
Upon returning to the U.S., Burke waited for six hours at the border, watching others being turned away. Eventually, she was called into an interrogation room where she faced intense questioning about her activities during her stay. Despite her insistence that she was merely a tourist, Burke was informed that she had violated her tourist visa by allegedly working in exchange for accommodation.
"I remember thinking, I should ask him to edit that," Burke later recounted, reflecting on how the officer summarized her activities. Feeling exhausted and anxious, she signed the document presented to her, believing it would lead to her release. Instead, she was detained, her belongings confiscated, and she was placed in a cell.
"I heard the door lock, and I instantly threw up," she recalled, overwhelmed by the sudden shift from a free traveler to a detainee. Burke was transported to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Tacoma, Washington, where she was subjected to degrading treatment, including being made to change into standard-issue clothing and assigned an 'A' number.
Inside the facility, Burke shared a dorm with 103 other women, many of whom were asylum seekers. The conditions were stark; the dorm was brightly lit at all hours, and the atmosphere was filled with tension. Burke quickly learned to navigate the daily routines, which included multiple counts throughout the day and sparse meals.
Despite the grim circumstances, Burke found solace in her artistic skills. On her first day in detention, she began drawing the other inmates, quickly becoming the dorm's unofficial artist. "I was immediately inundated with portrait requests," she said, as women sought to capture their likenesses in the midst of their struggles. A woman named Lucy even offered to let Burke use her phone credit to stay in touch with her family.
Among the women Burke encountered was Rosa, a Mexican detainee who had been incarcerated for 11 months, and a woman named Kseniia, who was confused about her own legal status despite having a work permit. Burke's interactions with these women not only illustrated the diverse backgrounds of detainees but also highlighted the shared trauma of their experiences.
As Burke's story gained media attention, her father, Paul Burke, took to social media to raise awareness about her plight. This public outcry led to increased scrutiny of her case, and just days later, an ICE officer informed her that she was now a priority for processing.
On March 17, 2025, after nearly three weeks of detention, Burke was finally released. However, the experience left her traumatized. She was shackled and escorted through the airport, where she underwent a final humiliating security check before boarding her flight back to the UK.
Reflecting on her ordeal, Burke expressed gratitude for her eventual release but also a deep sense of guilt for the women she left behind. "I was aware that it was from a major position of privilege that the press listened to this story," she stated. "I wanted the same thing that ICE wanted, which was for me to go home." Burke's deportation paper now prohibits her from entering the U.S. for the next ten years, a stark reminder of her traumatic experience.
In the aftermath of her detainment, Burke has pledged to use her art to tell the stories of the women she met during her time in detention, many of whom remain incarcerated. She has warned potential travelers to the U.S. to be cautious, advocating for thorough research into visa requirements and the realities of traveling in an increasingly strict immigration climate.
Burke's case is not an isolated incident; it reflects broader issues within U.S. immigration enforcement and the treatment of individuals at the border. Critics argue that the current administration's policies have created an environment where even innocent travelers can find themselves caught in a web of bureaucracy and mistreatment.
As the U.S. continues to grapple with immigration reform, Burke's story serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of these policies, urging a reevaluation of how travelers are treated and the importance of compassion in the face of legal strictures.
