This morning, news came out that cartoonist Becky Burke had returned home after being detained by Ice for three weeks. Her name sets up a blues account under her name:
Amazing news! By the beginning of this hour, Becky returned in the UK with her parents. Thank you for your support. If Becky’s story touches you, join an organization that supports incarcerated immigrants. Where Becky is held is the Northwest Immigration Rights Project. www.nwirp.org
Burke, 28, was first detained on February 28. During a four-month backpacking trip in North America, she was trying to cross Canada but was sent back after revealing she was exchanging light chores for a stay. Sent back to the United States, she was detained by Bing for similar reasons: she was not allowed to work under her tourist visa, and could be classified as work even if she had no money to exchange hands.
As the news spreads about Burke’s detention, international attention is increasing. Burke is a well-known figure in the British independent comics industry and received visits and assistance from friends in the Seattle area where she was detained. Bruceky account, by Laura Hudgensupdated her identity – Burke plans to make comics about her ordeal.
Becky sent a letter [email protected] Date is 3/7. It just arrived. “I was planning a lot of comics later on and painting them often (including portraits of other women, which made them very happy – when they were in a much worse situation than I did, I could at least do that.”
“I’ve been thinking about when to sit on that plane. I’m going to smile throughout the journey.”
In later posts, details of her detention were revealed.
A friend visited Becky Burke yesterday. Becky often had a 30-second cough, which made her diaphragm sore. It’s terrible to leave home when you’re sick, let alone in prison. She can indeed find a doctor to make sure she is not dead or anything and can buy lozenges. She had been wearing the same sweatshirt for two weeks and had a cold night without washing. She believes this could lead to her illness outside of the stress of incarceration. She once took an exam. Negative. The well-meaning stranger was about to visit her in the detention center and she really appreciated it, but she was exhausted and sick and could not meet anyone she didn’t know. She is not alone because she already knows that she is in custody. Becky now has the number of people in the Northwest Immigration Rights Group, and she can give other detainees and get some help. She knows how lucky she is to have a local support system. She is doing everything she can to maintain her mental health, but she is exhausted due to her illness. She drew 78 pages of comics while in custody and was considering a book to tell her story and other detainees’ stories.
While Burke’s story seems to have a happy ending, the stories of other ice-detained tourists have had a shocking effect on the cartoonist’s plan to travel to the United States, with many announcing that they will no longer plan to travel to the United States. Those who plan to come are paying special attention to making sure every T crosses and I dotted their visa.
Although Burke’s imprisonment is extreme, she is a talented cartoonist. I look forward to reading her future comics and wish her and her family good health.
