European band detained in Seattle area, sent back to Italy

A European band scheduled to perform at KEXP wrote in a Facebook post that when the trio arrived in the Seattle-area on Wednesday – they were detained and then sent back to Italy.

"We spent the night in jail and had been escorted there as though we were three criminals. The following day, after having completed all jail-related procedures (mugshots, declaration of good health and signatures), two other agents came to get us. We were searched, handcuffed and again escorted in a police car," the Facebook post reads.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement locator for detainees lists two names that match those of players in the band, Andrea Giometti and Alessandro Ferri. The locator provides information on detainees released from ICE custody within 60 days.

The closest immigration detention center to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.

KIRO 7 News reached out to Washington state’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) press officer Jason Givens about detainees at Sea-Tac International Airport on March 8.

Citing a privacy act, Givens said CBP cannot disclose information regarding specific international travelers.

The band said in their statement on Facebook that they carried an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). An ESTA, also known as the Visa Waiver Program, allows citizens from nearly 40 countries to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.

KIRO 7 News talked to KEXP. Its relations office told KIRO 7 that KEXP contacted the Department on Homeland Security for comment.

"When asked by KEXP for a comment, the Department of Homeland Security maintained the position that the band lacked the proper visa for entry into the United States," KEXP wrote on its blog. "DHS did not immediately respond to a question as to whether the use of prison cells and handcuffs is standard operating procedure for musicians arriving without a proper visa."

KEXP said the DHS sent its station this Customs and Border Protection policy:

When a traveler is deemed inadmissible, CBP makes every effort to return the traveler without delay. CBP does not have an overnight detention facility at the airport. Therefore, it is standard procedure for any traveler who is deemed inadmissible and is awaiting return travel to be taken to a detention center until return travel is available. According to CBP policy, it is standard procedure to restrain a traveler who is being transported to a detention facility. The use of restraints on detainees during transport is in a manner that is safe, secure, humane, and professional. It is the responsibility of officers to ensure that the need and level of restraints used is consistent with the operational office’s policies and procedures. At no time are restraints used in a punitive manner or in a manner that causes detainees undue pain.

Soviet Soviet had performances scheduled along the West Coast and South By Southwest. They flew back to Italy on Thursday, according to their post.

"They declared us illegal immigrants even if our intention was by no means to look for work in the United States nor never go back to Italy,” the band wrote. “We would like to apologize to our fans, the owners of the venues, KEXP radio and the SxSw festival. We would also like to apologize for having had to cancel our American tour and hope to go back soon.”

Cox Media Group