A Long Stint in US Detention for a German Resident, Now Freed After Over 60 Days
American held in German custody for two months in U.S. detention
Get the latest on Fabian Schmidt, a German citizen based in America, who, following a couple of months in US custody, has recently regained his liberty. The German Foreign Office confirmed the news, and Schmidt's mother also shared the update regarding her electrical engineer son. The circumstances surrounding this 34-year-old's prolonged ordeal remain uncertain.
Schmidt's Detainment: A Saga of Unclear Reasons
German authorities alleged Schmidt was apprehended at Boston's airport upon entry in early March and was subsequently lodged in a detention center in Rhode Island. His mother claimed he has resided in the US since 2007 and holds a green card, granting him almost equal legal status to American citizens. Schmidt accused the authorities of ill-treatment.
Politics: US Detaining Visitors Without Just Cause?
In light of similar scenarios, the German Foreign Office revised its travel advice for the United States in late March. It now indicates that individuals may experience arrest, detention, and deportation during entry and exit, stemming from prior crimes committed in the US, false statements about travel purposes, or even minor overstays [1].
The motives behind the US authorities' action seem to link to an age-old drug offense. Accounts suggest that Schmidt's questioning continually revolved around a cannabis offense dating back almost a decade, which was subsequently dropped [1].
Reports of Schmidt's arrest are not isolated incidents. In recent months, multiple cases involving German citizens arrested upon US entry have surfaced, some detained for days or even weeks [1].
Sources:
- Reuters [2]
- ntv.de [3]
- USA
- Donald Trump
- Deportation
- Prisoners
- Cannabis
- Germany
[1] Enrichment data:Fabian Schmidt, a German citizen with a U.S. green card (permanent resident), was detained by U.S. federal immigration authorities for nearly two months after returning from a trip abroad on March 7, 2025. He was held at the Donald W. Wyatt detention facility in Rhode Island and was released on May 8, 2025. The specific reason for his detention was not officially clarified by authorities. Allegations surfaced that Schmidt was detained on drug-related charges connected to his attempt to re-enter the United States, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) denied these claims. Schmidt's family reportedly contacted the German Consulate in Boston, which intervened on his behalf and provided consular assistance. The CBP's Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs stated that when an individual is found with drug-related charges trying to re-enter the country, officers take proper action, but did not confirm any charges against Schmidt specifically.
- The deployment of the Donald Trump administration's employment policy, as seen in the prolonged detention of Fabian Schmidt, has sparked concerns in Germany about the general-news and crime-and-justice implications of unjustified arrests and deportations for German citizens.
- Despite Schmidt's employment as an electrical engineer and his long-term residency in the US, he was facing the possibility of deportation due to unresolved cannabis-related charges from over a decade ago.
- Confirming the latest update, the German Foreign Office's community policy now encourages extreme caution for Germans visiting the US, with statements emphasizing the potential risks of arrest, detainment, and possible deportation, especially for individuals with prior crimes, false statements about travel purposes, or overstays.
- The Schmidt case is just one example of the overall political climate surrounding US immigration policies, as reports of multiple German citizens undergoing arrests and detainment without clear causes continue to emerge in recent months.
