A former steward on Below Deck Mediterranean said she was detained at a US airport recently … and then deported. Recalling the alleged ordeal, Natalya Scudder – who appeared on Seasons 7 and 8 of the hit boating show – described being kept in a “disgusting” detention center before being put on a flight back to Australia.
Below Deck Mediterranean alum Natalya Scudder was kept in a “disgusting” detention center
In an interview with TMZ, Natalya claimed she was recently kicked out of the US. Per her account, she was quizzed by US immigration at LAX airport over photos from a previous visit. The former Below Deck Med cast member was told earning money from images posted online during her trip required a different visa.
“They had a problem with it, saying that I illegally worked on the wrong visa,” she explained. Natalya added that officers took her phone away during the investigation and went through her history, including deleted messages, to make a decision.
Next, Natalya said she was kept in a “dirty” and “disgusting” detention center, which had “stains on the wall.” She was told her stay could be anywhere between “one and five days.”
While at the detention center, Natalya said she had an “anxiety attack.” She also accused officers of “grabbing” her while she was asleep to attend a formal interview. At this point, the ex-steward admitted she knew the decision to deport her had been made, and that she’d be sent back to Australia.
In total, Natalya alleged she was kept in the detention center for 30 hours, which was sandwiched by her 17-hour flight to the US, and another 17-hour flight home.
Looking forward, Natalya said that while she “loves America” she is hesitant to return as a content creator. “They have really locked in now,” she said of the immigration force. “If you’re taking pictures on American soil, you need an 01 visa,” she concluded.
Below Deck Mediterranean Season 11 continues Mondays at 8/7c on Bravo. You can also stream previous seasons on Peacock.
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