End ICE Detention of Tourists and Restore Accountability to Immigration Enforcement

I am writing to urge immediate action to end the detention of international tourists with valid visas and to restore accountability to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. The current system is destroying America's reputation, economy, and fundamental values. Karen Newton, a 65-year-old British grandmother and retired school administrator with no criminal record, was detained by ICE for 42 days despite having a valid B2 tourist visa. She was shackled at the wrists, waist, and ankles, transported to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, and forced to sleep on the floor of a cell. Her detention was based solely on "guilt by association" for helping her husband pack after his visa expired. She was offered deportation under Project Homecoming in exchange for signing a 10-year ban from the US and waiving her right to see a judge. This is not an isolated incident. German tourist Jessica Brösche was detained for 45 days, including 8 days in solitary confinement. British backpacker Rebecca Burke spent 19 days detained. New Zealander Sarah Shaw was held for 3 weeks with her six-year-old son. Multiple detainees report that guards stated ICE agents receive bonuses for each person detained, creating a perverse financial incentive for mass detention. The economic consequences are devastating. In 2025, the US lost 4.5 million international visitors, with Canadian visits down 22%, German visits down 11%, and British visits down 15%. The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates this cost our economy $12.5 billion in lost revenue. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, this crisis threatens even greater economic damage. ICE's budget has ballooned from $6 billion a decade ago to $85 billion, making it the highest-funded US law enforcement agency. New recruits receive signing bonuses up to $50,000. Following orders to increase daily arrests from a few hundred to 1,200-1,500, ICE deported 56,000 people during the federal government shutdown alone. I urge you to support legislation that prohibits detention of tourists with valid visas, eliminates financial incentives for mass detention, and restores judicial oversight to deportation proceedings. Our tourism industry, international relationships, and constitutional principles depend on it.