Bjorn Taylor, a 37-year-old accountant from Ravensmead, Cape Town, faced a nightmarish ordeal at Washington Dulles International Airport that transformed what was meant to be a dream holiday into a distressing experience. Taylor, who had never traveled abroad before, had embarked on a journey to the U.S. on July 31 to visit his sister, Ophelia Taylor-Mckenzie, her husband, Patrio Mckenzie, and their two children.

Taylor had planned to stay in the U.S. for three months and had applied for a tourist visa, with the understanding that his sister and her husband would be financially responsible for him during his visit, as he was unemployed. The trip was intended to be a joyous reunion and an opportunity to experience his first international travel. However, upon his arrival at Washington Dulles International Airport, his expectations were shattered.

The trouble began immediately upon passing through Customs. Taylor arrived at the airport at around 5:30 a.m. and was first questioned about the purpose of his visit, the amount of money he had on him, and whether he possessed a credit card or debit card. Taylor explained that he was visiting family and had only $40 in cash, as his sister and her husband had assured him they would cover all expenses. Despite this, Taylor was subjected to a rigorous and suspicious examination.

At the second station, Customs officers probed further into his reasons for visiting and the nature of his sister and her husband’s work, which they learned was in the financial sector. Taylor repeatedly clarified that he was only visiting and not planning to work. Despite his explanations and the information provided on his Visa DS-160 form, which stated that his sister would be financially responsible for him, Taylor’s situation took a drastic turn.

His passport and cellphone were confiscated, and he was placed in a detention room for 17 hours. The treatment he received was harsh and isolating. Taylor was not allowed to contact his family or the South African Embassy during this period, leaving him completely cut off from any support or guidance. His luggage was also thoroughly searched for suspicious items, further adding to his distress.

Throughout his detention, Taylor was not provided with adequate food or drink. After several hours, he was given a meal consisting of beans, which was not sufficient to address his hunger and discomfort. He was then informed that he would be rerouted to South Africa via a connecting flight in New Jersey. To his shock and humiliation, he was handcuffed while being escorted through the airport, despite his protests and requests to cover the handcuffs with clothing.

The situation worsened as Taylor was taken to the runway where his flight was delayed, only to be returned to the detention room where he was left waiting for additional hours. By 9 p.m., he was informed that the flight had been canceled, and he was provided with minimal sustenance: Pringles chips, a chocolate muesli bar, and cheddar biscuits. He was forced to sleep in an uncomfortable and stressful environment, exacerbating his anxiety and fear.

The following day, Taylor was given cereal and told that his flight was rescheduled for 4 p.m., but this too was subject to further delays. Again, he was cut off from all communication with his family and subjected to being handcuffed. Eventually, he was placed on a direct flight back to South Africa, arriving in Cape Town on Friday. The entire ordeal left him feeling deeply disheartened and discriminated against, as he observed that all other detainees in the room were from minority backgrounds, leading him to believe that racial profiling was a factor in his treatment.

Upon learning of Taylor’s situation, his sister Ophelia and her husband Patrio made more than 30 calls to the airline and other relevant authorities to inquire about Taylor’s well-being. They encountered hostile responses and were misled with claims that Taylor’s visa was invalid or that he had suspicious items with him. This added to their frustration and sense of helplessness.

Feeling that Taylor’s civil rights had been violated and that he had been subjected to discrimination, Ophelia and Patrio are pursuing legal action. They have lodged complaints with the South African Consulate-General in Los Angeles, Customs and Border Protection, and the airline. The U.S. Embassy has declined to comment on the specifics of Taylor’s case, citing policies of privacy and confidentiality. South African officials, including Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokespersons Clayson Monyela and Lunga Ngqengelele, did not respond to queries by the deadline.

The Taylor family’s ordeal underscores serious concerns about the treatment of international travelers and highlights issues of potential racial discrimination and rights violations.