The parents of a British backpacker have pleaded for the release of their daughter, who has spent two weeks behind bars in a US detention centre after a visa mix-up.
28-year-old Becky Burke’s ‘once in a lifetime’ solo travelling trip across the US and Canada turned into a nightmare when she was handcuffed while trying to cross the Canadian border on February 26.
The Brit has now spent two weeks behind bars at a detention centre in Tacoma, Washington, thanks to US President Donald Trump’s war on illegal alien terrorists, murderers and drug smugglers.
Now, her campaigning father Paul Burke, 60, has pleaded for his daughter’s release.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain today, Mr Burke said: ‘We really just want to get her home, this is a paperwork mix-up and we can’t believe the conditions she’s being held in. It’s a proper prison environment.
‘Initially we were very concerned that she was doing a solo trip as a young woman, but when she told us it was to the USA and Canada we thought it was probably the safest two countries for a British person to do solo travelling.
‘Becky has told us that she was told the detention centre is not a jail but the conditions are the exact definition of a jail – she had all of her possessions confiscated, she’s had to swap her own clothes for a prison jumpsuit.
‘She’s a vegan so she’s being given rice, potatoes and mushy beans everyday for the last 14 days.
‘We spoke to her yesterday and she said she’s had to see the medic because she’s got digestive problems. I think most people would have digestive problems after two weeks on cold rice and potatoes.’
Graphic artist Becky Burke (pictured) has been in an American detention centre for 14 days
Becky’s parents, Andrea and Paul Burke (pictured) appeared on Good Morning Britain today pleading for their daughter’s release
Paul, Becky’s father, said he and his wife ‘can’t believe’ the conditions Becky is being held in at the Tacoma detention centre
Graphic artist Becky had spent a ‘couple of months’ in the US before trying to cross the Canadian border, where she was told to refill her visa forms because the one she was carrying was ‘wrong.’
‘Becky’s such a sweet, beautiful, unassuming girl who wouldn’t say boo to a goose,’ her father said.
‘She flew from Britain into New York in January – before the Trump administration took over – for the holiday of a lifetime.
‘She travelled over to the west coast, a stayed for a fortnight with a family on Portland, Oregon, then in some hostels, a staying on people’s sofas, then with another family in Seattle, up by the Canadian border.
‘Near the end of February she was crossing over into Canada by land, with a family in Vancouver waiting at the bus station for her to arrive. She was looking forward to visiting a national park.
‘But when she got to Canadian side, they suddenly said this arrangement of staying with a family in return for chores sounded like work, her tourist visa wasn’t enough, and she should do the paperwork again.
Becky remains stuck behind bars 5,000 miles from home, surviving on a diet of cold rice, potatoes and mushy beans
Prior to her detainment, Becky had posted a series of photos and sketches from her travels across North America
In her last sketch posted during her travels, Becky wrote: ‘One part of travelling I love is seeing glimpses of other lives’
Canadian and American flags fly on the Canadian side of the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario, on March 8, 2025
‘And when she went back to the American side – where she still had a month on her tourist visa – US Immigration and Customs Enforcement told her “We’re not letting you in here either”, and detained her as an illegal alien.’
Becky had posted a series of photographs and sketches from her travels before being thrown behind bars. In one sketch, she wrote: ‘One part of travelling I love is seeing glimpses of other people’s lives.’
The sketch includes a kettle, a pile of books, a candle and a to-do list.
Becky, from Monmouthshire, Wales, too posted reels of herself ice-skating in Manhattan’s Central Park, running across a beach and trekking through a pine forest in a reel posted February 6.
As she remains behind bars some 5,000 miles away on the east coast of America, the Welsh woman’s father has won the support of his local Labour MP Catherine Fookes, who has raised his daughter’s case with Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
A spokesman for Ms Fookes said she is ‘deeply concerned’ for her constituent’s welfare, with the 28-year-old reportedly being restricted to one of hour of exercise a day, a ‘limited diet’ and ‘limited communication’ via a prison iPad. On one occasion, Becky was not provided with food rations until 1am.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have indicated that Becky is ‘likely to be deported,’ according to the spokesman, though this is yet to be confirmed.
Becky’s parents had requested that she be allowed to voluntarily depart the US to return home, with Mr Burke now hoping new UK ambassador to America Peter Mandelson can step in to save her.
It remains unclear how long Becky will be held at the Tacoma detention centre.
MailOnline have contacted ICE and the US Customs and Border Protection for comment.
