Trapped at the Border: German Tourist’s American Nightmare

SAN DIEGO — What started as a simple road trip for Lennon Tyler and her German fiancé, Lucas Sielaff, turned into a harrowing ordeal that has left them questioning the very idea of visiting the United States again.

The couple, who often took scenic drives to Mexico from Tyler’s home in Las Vegas, never imagined their return from Tijuana last month would land them in a shocking border crisis. But that’s exactly what happened when U.S. border agents abruptly detained Sielaff, accused him of violating his 90-day tourist permit, and sent him to an immigration detention center for over two weeks. Meanwhile, Tyler, a U.S. citizen, was handcuffed and chained to a bench—her only crime? Trying to stand by her fiancé.

This is not an isolated incident. Under the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies, tourists from traditionally allied nations like Germany, Canada, and the UK are increasingly finding themselves in detention limbo. Sielaff, a 25-year-old German traveler, is one of many who have been locked up, stripped of their belongings, and denied basic rights—all without clear explanations.

From Dream Vacation to Detention Cell

Sielaff, who had legally entered the U.S. on Jan. 27 through the visa waiver program, planned a short getaway with Tyler to Tijuana for her dog’s surgery—combining necessity with an adventurous spirit. But on Feb. 18, as they approached the U.S. border to return, the situation took a terrifying turn.

“Where are you going? Where do you live?” an aggressive border agent demanded. When Sielaff, whose first language is not English, responded, “We’re going to Las Vegas,” the officer snapped, “Oh, we caught you. You live in Las Vegas. You can’t do that.”

The agents separated them immediately. Tyler, pleading for a translator, was instead placed in restraints. Her dog, still recovering from surgery, was left alone in the car. After hours of silence, she was released without any explanation of her fiancé’s fate.

Sielaff, meanwhile, was subjected to a full-body search, had his phone confiscated, and was forced to sleep on a bench in a holding cell for two days. He was then shackled and transferred to Otay Mesa Detention Center, where he shared a cell with eight other detainees.

For nearly 16 days, he endured harsh conditions, little communication, and a growing sense of hopelessness.

“You are angry, you are sad, you don’t know when you can get out,” he said, still shaken by the experience. “Nobody tells you anything.”

Detained Without Reason: A Growing Crisis

Sielaff’s story isn’t unique. Other travelers have faced similar horrors:

• Jessica Brösche, another German tourist, was detained at the Tijuana border on Jan. 25 and locked up for 45 days, including time in solitary confinement.
• Becky Burke, a Welsh backpacker, was stopped at the U.S.-Canada border on Feb. 26 and spent nearly three weeks in a Washington state detention facility.
• Jasmine Mooney, a Canadian actress, was detained at the Tijuana crossing despite having a valid U.S. work visa. She was released only after 12 days.

Even UCLA has begun warning its international students to avoid non-essential travel, fearing that the U.S. government’s shifting immigration stance could leave them stranded outside the country.

Experts are calling this trend unprecedented. Pedro Rios, director of the American Friends Service Committee, noted that in over 22 years of working on the border, he had never seen Western Europeans and Canadians detained in such numbers. “It’s a clear sign of the administration’s more fervent anti-immigrant atmosphere,” he said.

The Fight for Justice

After 16 agonizing days, Sielaff was finally told he could leave—but at his own expense. In a desperate call, he begged Tyler to book a flight home. She spent $2,744 to get him on a plane back to Germany. Now, he suffers from recurring nightmares and is considering therapy to cope with the trauma.

“This was a blatant abuse of power,” Tyler said, now preparing to sue the U.S. government.

For many, the question now is: Who’s next? Will any foreign traveler be safe from sudden and unexplained detention?

The detentions are already sparking global backlash. British Columbia’s Premier David Eby called the treatment of Canadian citizens at U.S. borders “deeply troubling,” warning that Canadians might soon think twice about visiting their southern neighbor. In Germany, media outlets have highlighted Sielaff’s story as part of a disturbing shift in U.S. policies.

As fear grows, international travel to the U.S. could take a hit. The land of opportunity may soon find itself with fewer visitors and a tarnished reputation.

“Nobody is safe there anymore,” Sielaff said. “It’s just not worth the risk.”