German green card holder detained at Boston airport without explanation

Fabian Schmidt, a German national and legal permanent U.S. resident, was arrested by U.S. immigration officials at Boston Logan International Airport on March 7, 2025, after returning from a week-long visit to Germany. His mother, Astrid Senior, and partner have reported that they are unaware of the reasons behind his detention, despite Schmidt's history of maintaining his legal residency. After the arrest, he was interrogated and subsequently transferred to a federal detention facility, which caused alarm among his family. Schmidt, 34, has been living in the U.S. since 2007 and renewed his green card last year. His mother expressed feelings of helplessness regarding the situation and mentioned that Schmidt had to call her from the ICE facility on March 11, but she has not heard from him since. Prior to his arrest, he was reportedly interrogated for several hours and later required medical attention, which resulted in him being transported to Massachusetts General Hospital when authorities determined he could not be processed at customs due to needing urgent care. The case has drawn attention amidst a broader context of aggressive immigration policies, which have seen an increase in detentions of legal visa and green card holders under the Trump administration. Schmidt's family reported that he faced pressure during the interrogation to relinquish his green card, and claims of improper treatment, including being stripped and denied food and water, were also made, though a spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection contradicted those claims, labeling them false. The ongoing detention of Schmidt raises questions about immigration enforcement practices and the potential violations of rights for those who hold legal residency status in the U.S. As Schmidt’s family seeks legal assistance for his case through crowdfunding, they hope to understand the circumstances leading to his detention and to secure his release as other similar immigration cases continue to garner attention.