Natalya Scudder deported after U.S. detention center stay, she says
The Below Deck alum told TMZ she was held 30 to 40 hours over a visa issue tied to paid photos taken in the U.S.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
Natalya Scudder deported from the United States after a visa dispute tied to photos she took during a prior visit, the “Below Deck” alum told TMZ in an interview published this week.
Scudder, who appeared on seasons 7 and 8 of the Bravo reality series, said authorities detained her after telling her that earning money from the images meant she needed a different type of visa than the one she had applied for.
The reality star and influencer described the episode as a travel nightmare, saying she was first placed in a dirty room and told she could be held for anywhere from one to five days, according to TMZ.
Why was Natalya Scudder deported from the U.S.?
Scudder told TMZ the issue centered on photos she had taken in the United States and later monetized. According to her account, officials said that activity required a visa category different from the one she used to enter the country.
A visa determines what a foreign visitor is allowed to do while in the U.S. In Scudder’s telling, authorities treated the paid use of those photos as the problem that led to her detention and removal.
TMZ did not report a response from U.S. authorities to Scudder’s claims.
She described grim conditions in lockup
Scudder said the room where she was held was dirty and that the bedding was unclean. She also complained about basic conditions, including a lack of towels, TMZ reported.
She said she spent the night in custody before being brought in for an interview. After that, according to Scudder, she was deported and put on a flight back to Australia.
The travel timeline she gave TMZ was punishing: a 17-hour flight to the U.S., an estimated 30 to 40 hours in detention, then another 17-hour flight home.
Scudder said she still loves America, but warned other influencers to be careful when traveling to the country. Her message, according to TMZ, was that people who make money from content should pay close attention to visa rules before entering the U.S.
The case lands squarely in the messy overlap between travel, social media work and immigration screening. Scudder’s account suggests that even content made during a trip can raise questions if it is later used for paid influencer work.
For fans who know Scudder from “Below Deck,” the episode is a far cry from yacht drama. She says the trip ended with detention, an interview and a direct flight back across the Pacific.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.