An Australian woman who was rejected at the US border and put on the first flight back to Brisbane says the ordeal has been life-changing in the worst possible way ever since.
In 2022, Queenslander Madolline Gourley arrived to the always-chaotic Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on a flight in from Brisbane.
Gourley revealed to news.com.au at the time — almost three years ago — she was detained while passing through the international terminal on June 30, 2022 — claiming officials were suspicious about her intention to house-sit while holidaying in Canada.
After an interrogation barely five hours after arriving to the US, Gourley was told she was being denied entry and would be sent back to Brisbane on the next available flight.
The reason? According to officials, she had breached the conditions of the visa waiver program.
Gourley had made the mistake of attempting to enter the US (and onwards to Canada) on a tourist visa.
But given she had intended to house-and pet-sit through websites like TrustedHousesitters to cut accommodation costs, this was deemed as a breach.
The US Customs and Border Protection said the visa waiver program prohibited applicants from engaging “in any type of employment” or receiving “compensation for services rendered.”
This includes house-sitting services in exchange for free accommodation.
The CBP spokesperson said it took “allegations of unprofessional behaviour seriously”.
Following her detention, Gourley made headlines around the world after speaking out about the interrogation experience — including the moment she was patted down by US immigration officials and even asked whether she was pregnant or had recently had an abortion.
Gourley at the time explained to news.com.au the ordeal went from “one disaster to the next” but three years later, the now 35-year-old said the refusal has plagued her travels and attempts at entering foreign countries around the world ever since.
Speaking to news.com.au from Brisbane, Gourley said her most recent venture across the ditch to New Zealand was met with questioning from immigration and even having her passport blocked before she’d left Australian soil.
While filling out her New Zealand Electronic Travel Declaration for a trip in April, she was met with the single question about previously being deported or refused entry to a country.
“I mulled on the question before answering, but always say yes to whether I have been deported or refused entry,” she said.
“The frustration is that the question doesn’t break it down [whether a person was deported or refused] … it’s just a very broad question, so when I do answer ‘yes’ to it, immigration doesn’t know if it’s a ‘yes’ to being deported, or a yes to being refused.”
Upon arrival for her trip to Auckland, Gourley said she was unable to check-in for her flights from Brisbane airport because she had answered ‘yes’ to the entry declaration’s question: “Have you been deported, removed, barred or refused entry to another country?’”
“A Qantas staff member had to call New Zealand Immigration and I was asked several questions before the officer went to discuss my situation with his colleague,” she explained.
“The passport block was lifted and I was able to check-in and travel, but all of this happened before I’d even left Australia at Brisbane Airport.
“Being deported, removed or barred makes a traveller ineligible to enter New Zealand. But as I was only refused entry, I was permitted to enter, but not without having to explain what happened at length.
“I left [doing the declaration] until the last minute, because I knew I had to answer that particular question and it made me very nervous. I knew I should be OK to enter, but with this — I never really know if I will be OK.”
Gourley said because anyone deported, removed or rejected from another country has stronger barricades in place for entry into Australia, the UK, the USA and Canada — she expects this will be an issue for life.
And for those who think she should simply tell a lie on the form, there’s a stamp on her passport that says she was refused entry.
“My understanding is this will always happen … So while I was prepared for this, I was prepared for it to happen in New Zealand … not before I’d even checked in to Brisbane airport and left Australia,” she said.
“Travel comes with anxiety for me now. I didn’t expect all this drama at Brisbane airport … I expected it once I got to Auckland. So it was even more anxiety causing because I hadn’t even left the country and I was potentially being told no.”
Gourley said despite this refusal from the US for having the wrong visa, and the subsequent havoc that has caused for other international trips — it has not deterred her from seeing the world.
“It’s not turned me off traveling, because not every country asks that question on the incoming passenger declaration,” she said,
“I do know you need a work visa … I have learnt my lesson so with that … but for it to follow me for the rest of my life without having broken laws in those countries [I am intending to visit] is a bit excessive.
“My record will never leave the US immigrations records and it will always be there. As long as you get that question on the declaration, I will always answer it truthfully”.
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