A British woman who was detained in the United States for three weeks due to a visa mix-up has arrived back in the UK, according to reports. Rebecca Burke, 28, a graphic artist from Monmouthshire, was seen on Sky News being greeted by a loved one at Heathrow Airport.
Burke was detained after attempting to cross from Canada into Washington state. Canadian authorities had advised her to return to the US to complete new paperwork, but upon re-entry she was handcuffed 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 it had provided support and was in contact with local authorities.
Burke had been staying with a host family in Portland, Oregon under a arrangement involving domestic chores in exchange for accommodation. She was told she should have applied for a working visa rather than a tourist visa. A fundraiser raised nearly £10,000 for her legal fees and return travel.
