Previously, he states that R.E. Burke had visited New York and Portland, where she spent time with a host family, helping with household chores in return for accommodation. She then travelled to Seattle with plans to travel to Vancouver in Canada to stay with another family, "just like a cultural exchange". But the Canadian authorities then denied her entry as they were concerned she may try to work illegally and returned her across the border. It was then that US officials told her she was being detained as, according to her father, they considered "that host family cultural exchange to be work… So basically she couldn't go into Canada, she wasn't allowed in the US".
So likely something that would get overlooked in any other climate. I don't see this as bad as the Griner/THC/USSR situation, but the authorities in charge seem to need to be seen "doing something"
Possibly not. It's common for the UK to refuse entry if a traveler doesn't meet the entry requirements too. It is harsh to leave someone in detention when it would be easy enough to deport them.
I don't see Griner as comparable since it wasn't about immigration, unless you are comparing in the sense of scapegoating.
Honestly, I’d bet that the Canadian border officials sent her back knowing that this would force the US officials to do paperwork and therefore not be allowed to look the other way.
Border officials have wide latitude to ignore things, and for someone like this young lady they were definitely inclined to look the other way as long as they could.
Sadly, she’s collateral damage in a really dumb fued.
