German tourist stuck in ICE detention center for over a month

[HardenYourHeart]

I just stumbled across this:

Pretty wild. I won't be visiting the US for the foreseeable future. No way!

Here's a link to a text-based article by CNN.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/04/world/german-detained-ice-intl-latam/index.html

She's a tattoo artist who was travelling into the USA with a friend, with the intention of doing some tattoo work on the friend. Not paid but it seems that they have an ongoing arrangement that the friend makes her clothes in return. So the authorities have probably classified it as "work".

Rather worryingly she entered via the visa waiver and according to an immigration lawyer interviewed for the article:

"By entering on the waiver program, a tourist waives their right to any kind of litigation"

I didn't know that. Does that mean you're not even allowed legal representation, or just that you can't pursue the case through court?

I think the moral of the story is if they want to deport you then pay for a ticket and go.

She tried that. Her mom tried to buy a ticket for her, but they wouldn't approve it. So now she has been stuck in that detention center for over a month. She also spent about 8 days in isolation till she was going mad.

Isn't she detained still because they suspect she has been working in the USA on previous visits too? That's what other new sources are saying.

Sounds like she is there illegally.
Given that I don't understand why they don't just deport her