Overview
- Karen Newton, 65, describes being handcuffed, shackled and kept in cold cells before a transfer to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma.
- The detention followed a September 26 border turnback from Canada, when U.S. officers found her husband’s visa had expired even though hers was valid.
- She says the couple accepted voluntary self‑removal early in custody expecting quick flights home, yet they remained confined until being flown to the UK on November 6.
- Newton alleges guards told her ICE officers receive a per‑detainee bonus, a claim the agency rejects, saying pay and bonuses are not tied to arrest or detention numbers.
- The UK Foreign Office says it provided assistance, as widespread coverage of the case focuses attention on detention conditions and due‑process concerns for lawful visitors.