GoFundMe Set Up for Detained British Cartoonist R.E. Burke

Alan Gardner Updated: March 13, 2025 at 2:18 pm EDT 1 minute 1 comment

The family of British cartoonist R.E. Burke, who detained at the Canadian border by US Immigration authorities, has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help offset legal costs and help her return home. D.D. Degg mentioned her plight earlier this week.

The crux of the issue is Burke used a cultural/hospitality exchange website to arrange for free lodging and meals in exchange for providing work for a host family in the US and Canada. She spent time in Portland with a family in exchange for house chores and was traveling to Vancouver Canada to with another family under a similar agreement. At the border Canadian border officials denied her entry because they viewed that work as requiring a work VISA. Turned away, she was denied re-entry into the US and categorized as an “illegal alien”. She has been in a US detention facility since February 26.

*Burke cartoon from her Instagram account*

Per the BBC, Burke has asked for voluntary departure, but “the process of appearing in front of a judge as part of voluntary departure could be delayed because several dozen of the approximately 700 immigration judges had resigned or been fired by the Trump administration.” Compounding her plight, her family cannot add money to her inmate account for her to buy essentials because of they are foreigners so they rely on American friends to deposit support money for her.

According to the GoFundMe Fundraiser, they hope to raise £8,000 for the following:

Legal fees – to get a great lawyer who can fight for Becky’s release.
Advisory support – to help navigate the complicated visa situation.
Money for Becky – so she can get food, essentials, and stay in touch with family.
A flight home.
If we’re fortunate enough to have left over money we will be looking at donating this to charities in the Seattle area that helps people in a similar situation.

As of this writing they have raised £8,927.

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Immigration Paths

This article really hit me—seeing that a British cartoonist has been detained and now has a GoFundMe set up to support legal and living expenses is both heartbreaking and, sadly, not surprising in today’s world. It’s a stark reminder that even artists, whose job is often to question, provoke, and reflect society, aren’t always protected by freedom of expression—especially when their work challenges powerful institutions.

What really stood out is the way the cartoonist’s community has come together so quickly to support him. The fact that fellow artists, fans, and press freedom advocates are rallying behind him through GoFundMe is powerful. It shows that while institutions might fail, people still show up for each other.

The article doesn’t go too deep into the politics of his arrest, but the underlying message is clear: freedom of speech and art are still very much at risk, even in places you wouldn’t expect.

If you care about press freedom or simply believe artists deserve protection—not persecution—for doing their jobs, this story is worth following. And if you can, supporting the fund is a small but meaningful way to stand up for creative voices everywhere.

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GoFundMe Set Up for Detained British Cartoonist R.E. Burke

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Immigration Paths

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