Missed a detail upon entry
Australian wants to go on vacation and ends up in US jail
He actually wanted to go on vacation to the USA, but the trip turned into a horror trip for Jack Dunn. The Australian had overlooked a detail when entering the country and was therefore treated like a criminal. Since then he has suffered from panic attacks.
The Australian Jack Dunn (23) actually wanted to travel through the USA and then explore Mexico. But nothing came of it. The journey turned into a nightmare for the young man, as the «Guardian» reported. First he went to jail, then he was deported back to Australia. The reason for the odyssey: a special entry law.
Dunn applied for a visa waiver for his trip to the United States in May. This was granted to him. The 23-year-old knew that he would have to prove his departure plans to the American authorities. So far so good.
But what he missed was a rule that required applicants to prove how they intend to leave the United States. Also important: the onward journey must not end in a country that borders directly on the USA. For example, Dunn might have shown a return ticket to Australia.
He mightn’t book a flight
But he didn’t have any. And because Mexico shares a border with the United States and Dunn had booked no onward travel beyond Mexico, a US Customs and Border Protection officer was already waiting for him at the airport in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Much to the surprise of Dunn, who had no idea he broke the law. By the time he realized his mistake, it was already too late. He was taken to an interrogation room. With no possibility of internet access. This made it impossible for Dunn to contact his family or book a flight to another country.
“They treated me like a criminal, like a piece of shit”
Border Patrol officials remained tough. They didn’t want to let the Australian into the country, instead he went to jail. An experience that left him with bad memories. “The guards and inmates had no idea why I was there. They treated me like a criminal, like a piece of shit,” he told the Guardian.
Dunn said he was in a cell with another prisoner who smeared the wall with blood and feces. After 30 hours the Australian’s nightmare was over. He was taken back to the airport and put on a plane home.
The experience has left its mark on Dunn. Since then he has suffered from panic attacks. He recently had to cut short his vacation in Thailand and fly back to Australia. (ced)
