1 week Ago By Sarah Falson
A high-profile Australian Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) coach claims he was detained at the US border and sent to prison for 24 hours over a "missed detail" in his visa. or signup to continue reading , which he said involved being stopped at the border and taken into an isolated room. "The officer interviewing me looked like he was looking for something wrong," Mr Subotic wrote on Instagram.
Mr Subotic said he was for a seminar and was cooperative with officers, being open about why he was there and providing them with the details they requested. But they kept him in a room for three hours, "asking endless questions", before taking him to jail over the visa mistake. "No clear explanation, no chance to talk to anyone, no rights.
They handcuffed me, put me in a car, and drove me to federal prison," he wrote. The social media post comes as . There have been reports of individuals being detained and denied entry into the US and their devices being inspected.
Mr Subotic said officers took him to a federal prison where he was "stripped" of his clothes and belongings and given prison clothes to wear. He speaks of a fight in his prison cell after other inmates tried to steal his bedding. Back at the airport 24 hours later, he was reportedly told he was being deported.
He said, before an officer took off his handcuffs to send him home, the officer said, "I'm sorry this happened to you. They messed up big. It shouldn't have gone this way".
Mr Subotic called the experience "unreal". "It's insane how easily someone can take away your freedom, lock you in a federal prison, without a clear reason. No explanation.
No warning. Just like that, you're treated like the worst criminal," he said. Australia's DFAT has issued a travel update for the US including advice for Australia's gender diverse community.
states entry requirements are strict and travellers may be detained if entry is denied. "US authorities have broad powers to decide if you're eligible to enter and may determine that you are inadmissible for any reason under US law," the update says. "Check US entry, transit and exit requirements.
Whether you're travelling on a visa or under the Visa Waiver Program, ensure you understand all relevant terms and conditions before attempting to enter the United States." The update includes new advice about the gender indicated on an individual's passport. "Although Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender, we can't guarantee that a passport showing 'X' in the sex field will be accepted for entry or transit by another country," the advice says.
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