Fabian Schmidt, a New Hampshire-based electrical engineer and green card holder, was detained by immigration officers at Logan Airport upon returning from a trip to Luxembourg. Despite having a recently renewed green card and no active legal issues, Schmidt was subjected to hours of interrogation, harsh treatment, and denial of access to medication for anxiety and depression. His family reported that he was stripped naked, placed in a cold shower, and deprived of food and water before collapsing and being hospitalized with influenza. Schmidt is now being held at the Donald W. Wyatt detention facility in Rhode Island, with his family working with attorneys and the German consulate to secure his release.
Schmidt, who moved to the U.S. in 2007 and holds a green card, has a minor past misdemeanor for marijuana possession in 2015, which was dismissed after California’s laws changed. He also has a resolved DUI from a decade ago. Immigration experts note that green card holders can face deportation for certain criminal convictions, even minor or outdated ones, though Schmidt’s case appears extreme. The incident highlights broader concerns about the targeting of individuals with legal immigration status, as seen in similar cases like that of Mahmoud Khalid, a green card holder detained for protest activity. Schmidt’s family remains fearful for his future as they await clarity on the reasons for his detention.
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