A British woman who was detained in the United States for three weeks due to a visa misunderstanding has returned to the UK. Rebecca Burke, 28, a graphic artist from Monmouthshire, was seen arriving at Heathrow Airport, where she was greeted by a family member.
Burke was attempting to cross from Canada into Washington state when she was denied entry. Canadian authorities advised her to return to the US and complete new paperwork. However, upon re-entering the US, she was handcuffed, placed in a cell, and taken to the Tacoma Northwest detention facility.
Her father, Paul Burke, previously described her detention conditions as “horrendous” and said she lacked access to legal representation. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed they supported Burke and were in contact with local authorities.
Burke had planned to stay with a host family in exchange for domestic work, but was told she needed a working visa rather than a tourist visa. A fundraising campaign raised nearly £10,000 for her legal fees and return travel, with surplus funds to be donated to charities supporting others in similar situations.
