Burundi-born man detained by ICE en route to Canada over visa status

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained the adopted son of a Maine state senator as he was travelling towards the Canadian border, and released him to Canadian officials after two nights. The man, Jessie Tepler-Mujambere, is originally from Burundi and, according to his mother, had recently become a Canadian citizen.

Key facts

• Who: Jessie Tepler-Mujambere, adopted son of Maine state Sen. Denise Tepler
• Where: stopped by ICE agents after a traffic stop in New Hampshire while travelling to Canada
• ICE's position: he overstayed his visa and was in the United States unlawfully
• Family's position: he had a pending asylum application and had recently obtained Canadian citizenship
• Outcome: held for two nights, then released to Canadian officials

What happened?

Tepler-Mujambere was on his way to Canada when ICE agents stopped him following a traffic stop in New Hampshire, according to the account of the incident. He spent two nights in detention before being released to Canadian officials.

Why was he detained?

ICE said Tepler-Mujambere, who is originally from Burundi, had overstayed his visa and was unlawfully present in the United States. The office of Rep. Chellie Pingree said he had been pursuing legal status in the country through a pending asylum application.

His adoptive mother, Maine state Sen. Denise Tepler, said her son had recently obtained Canadian citizenship and was heading to the border to live legally in Canada at the time of the stop.

What have officials said?

Sen. Tepler questioned the role of the police department in Colebrook in the incident, saying local officers may not have been trained to act as immigration officers. She also suggested that ICE officers quickly recognised the detention was a difficult situation, particularly with an election approaching.

Pingree called the detention "nothing more than a colossal waste of resources, manpower, and taxpayer dollars."

What happens next?

The account does not state whether any further immigration proceedings against Tepler-Mujambere are planned, nor does it give the date of the traffic stop or any charge brought against him. It describes his asylum application as still pending and says he was released to Canadian officials after two nights.