Jessica B.: German tattoo artist held over a month after border stop
Jessica Brösche, a 26-year-old German tattoo artist, was denied entry at San Diego and has spent over a month in ICE detention, including eight days in solitary confinement.
Jan 25, 2025San Diego, CACountry of origin: Germany

Jessica Brösche, a 26-year-old German tattoo artist, was denied entry to the United States at the San Diego border on January 25, 2025, after crossing from Tijuana with her American friend Amelia Lofving to travel to Los Angeles. US Customs and Border Protection accused her of planning to violate her visa waiver by intending to work as a tattoo artist, and she was transferred to ICE custody at the Otay Mesa detention center, where she has been held for more than a month. Brösche spent eight days in solitary confinement, which her friend said left her so distressed she punched the walls until her knuckles bled. Lofving said she could not locate Brösche for 25 days and had to use the federal Detainee Locator website and seek help from the German consulate before she could visit her.
Tags
Sources
Loading…
More incidents in California
- Man detained at gunpoint by plainclothes ICE agents in San Francisco, says he's a U.S. citizenOct 19, 2026 · San Francisco, CA
- Joseph D. and Alexandria Q.: Activists tracking ICE agents arrested during 45-day surge in SLO, Santa BarbaraOct 19, 2026 · CA
- Ricardo G.: U.S. citizen's arm broken after ICE agents tase and pin him in Long BeachOct 19, 2026 · Long Beach, CA
- Garden Grove man dragged from car, punched by ICE agents, witnesses sayOct 18, 2026 · Garden Grove, CA
- Angel: 19-year-old photojournalist bruised in LAPD arrest at ICE protestOct 18, 2026 · Los Angeles, CA
- Detained man has seizure as LAPD, CHP officers withhold aidOct 17, 2026 · Los Angeles, CA