A series of friends shared a troubling story with us at Frontline America from Texas. The man is Curtis Nettleship, whose girlfriend, a visitor from New Zealand, has been detained by border patrol for over a month due to a passport issue.
Nettleship has communicated to authorities that despite her lawful status, Novi Stretton has been detained by law enforcement and transported across states without communication. At the same time, illegal entrants are reportedly granted passage into the country.
Determined to shed light on this confusing situation, we committed to covering her story.
On May 15, we received a distressing account from Nettleship, who had tirelessly advocated for Novia’s release. He provided detailed documentation outlining Novia’s situation and pleaded for assistance securing her freedom.
Stretton, originally from Indonesia but a citizen of New Zealand, was detained at Calexico POE on April 21 while traveling with Nettleship and his brother, Reidar, aboard the S.V. Kellowyn. Nettleship, deeply concerned about Novia’s well-being, highlighted her lack of criminal record and stressed the urgent need for intervention in a letter to New Zealand and United States government officials.
According to Nettleship, Novi entered the US legally in September 2024 but encountered visa issues upon her return from Mexico in April 2024.
Nettleship, a US citizen, recounted their journey aboard the S.V. Kellowyn, which embarked on a circumnavigation in 2003. Novia joined as crew in November 2021, and together, they sailed across various ports, intending to return to the US in November 2022, according to his documentation. However, adverse weather conditions forced them to change course, leading them to Catalina Island, California, in February 2024. Unable to reach their intended destination in Washington State, they sailed to Mexico, planning to reenter the US later.
Upon their return to the US, Novi encountered difficulties with the ESTA process due to her dual citizenship background, Nettleship said.. Despite her efforts to seek guidance, she was unable to resolve the issue and decided to present herself at the US border. On April 21, Curtis and Novi arrived at the Calexico Board Station, where Novia was detained without proper explanation. Curtis, distressed by Novi’s sudden detainment, implored officials to address her situation promptly.
Despite Curtis’s relentless efforts to seek help and clarify Novi’s status, her whereabouts remained undisclosed, and her family in New Zealand remained uninformed. Frustrated by the lack of transparency and accountability, Curtis initiated a one-man protest at the DHS in Texas, demanding answers and resolution. However, he was met with resistance and asked to leave the premises.
Novi’s prolonged detention without communication or due process raises serious concerns about the treatment of law.
Nettleship has continued to update on his FACEBOOK PAGE
Here is the full letter he sent to DHS:
Sent: Sunday, May 05, 2024 at 9:44 AM
From: “Curtis Nettleship” <cnettleship@mail.com>
To:roque.caza@cbp.dhs.gov, roquecaza@gmail.com
Subject: Detanee: Novia StrettonMy name is Curtis Nettleship, Captain of S.V. Kellowyn. My crew, 25 yr old, Novia Stretton was detained at Calexico POE, April 21st while traveling with me and my brother Reidar Nettleship. Would you please take the time to read over the statement of facts I have presented below. Myself and her family are growing ever more concerned about her situation, as we have had only one limited conversation with her. This conversation, Novia did not initiate. Her Mother was able to get through by contacting the on-duty supervisor who passed his phone off to her. Novia has no experience in situations like the one she now faces, and we believe she needs an advocate to help her navigate her way through.
The ojective of presenting this overview is to obtain information about Novia Feby Stretton and to secure her release.
Highlights
- Novia Feby Stretton first entered the US via a vessel (S.V. Kellowyn) in Honolulu, Hawaii September 2024.
- Stretton was issued a 6-month (180 day) travel visa which expired March 13, 2024
- Stretton left the US on March 12, 2024 and entered Mexico via boat
- Stretton was unable to complete the ESTA process online
- Stretton presented herself to the US border on April 21. 2024 and was detained.
- Stretton has no criminal record, is a law abiding citizen of the world.
Narrative of Facts and Circumstance
My name is Curtis John Nettleship, a US citizen, born in Washington State.
In 2003, I began a potential circumnavigation in a sailboat. In 2020(?) I met the Stretton family in Malaysia. On November 25, 2021 Novia Feby Stretton transferred to my vessel as crew. Ms. Stretton has remained as crew since then. The vessel has sailed to a number of ports since November 2021.
In November 2022, a decision was made to sail back to the United States and preparations were begun for an arduous passage via the equator and the northern Pacific Ocean, that while atypical would avoid areas of world with strife and problems for private sailing vessels. The actual journey began in January 2023. Our last port of call prior to arrival into the US was Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.
We checked out of FSM on August 1st and began sailing toward the US. Our intended port of entry was Seattle as my living parent resides in the State of Washington and I own a home in Idaho. Small sailing vessels are influenced by seasonal changes to trade winds, weather patterns and currents. We experienced some weather conditions which impacted critical equipment and after repairs, we turned south toward our alternate port of entry.
We cleared into Honolulu Hawaii on September 14, 2023, and undertook the normal process for entry into a new country by a sailing vessel. An application for entry was made in the office of Customs and Border Protection and processed. Ms. Stretton was issued a 6-month Visitor’s Visa which would expire on March 15, 2024.
Repairs were made while in Hawaii as well as provisioning. A few days past the Christmas holidays we left port to attempt passage to a northerly port on the US mainland still intending to visit family in Washington State. Weather forced us south and we arrived in Catalina Island California on February 1, 2024. After review of weather patterns anticipated for February and March, it was evident that we would be unable to attain the goal of Washington State. Because of the limitation of Ms. Stretton’s visa, we elected to sail to Mexico, and enter the U.S. at a latter date.
Prior to leaving the US I contacted US Customs and Border Patrol via phone to determine the proper process for departure clearance for the US (which is a normal procedure when leaving by vessel in most countries wherein you receive formal paper, sometimes referred to as a Zarpe or Letters of Pratique). The last time I cleared out of the US was more than 20 years ago. I was advised, similar to my last experience that there was no outbound clearance procedure nor was it necessary. I specifically inquired about having a foreign national onboard.
We cleared out of the United States, San Diego Harbor, into international waters March 12th We sailed down the west coast of Baja California and then turned north into the Sea of Cortez. Eventually finding a protected anchorage south of Loreto in San Cosme Baja. During April it became apparent that my mother’s health was failing and I wished to visit her as well as visit my property in Idaho and attend to business there. Due to our location and wanting to bring certain items home I reached out to my brother to drive to our location and drive us to see our mother.
Ms. Stretton began the Electronic System for Travel Application process. Ms. Stretton was born in Indonesia to a New Zealand father and an Indonesian mother. As a minor, her parents had dual passports for her. Prior to becoming an adult, the father determined that she should only hold the New Zealand passport and the Indonesian passport was abandoned. The ESTA process specifically states that if you have had more than one passport you must provide a copy of each.
Ms. Stretton contacted her father but was advised that it had long ago been discarded. Ms. Stretton attempted to get help from US officials to accurately describe the situation but was unable to contact anyone who could assist or provide an answer to the process.
The ESTA does not allow for any exceptions and Ms. Stretton did not want to inaccurately attest to her circumstances. It was decided that she would follow the same procedure as her first entry into the US back in September 2023 and present herself at the US border.
My brother Reidar Nettleship arrived April 18th in Loreto and assisted us in prepping the vessel for a period of being away, hence a form of mothballing.
After an exhausting several days of vessel storage work, we drove north and arrived at the Calexico Board Station on April 21 at about 9:30 AM. We found the route to the border station very confusing and were stressed about getting into the wrong lane. I was personally exhausted and the added stress of the route surely impacted my disposition when I was questioned by border official. I was asked many questions, most of which I do not remember. After approximately 1 hour, my crew mate Novia Stretton was handcuffed and led away.
She had no money or phone on her person, and I was denied the opportunity give her either of these things. I did however eventually persuade supervisor Brown to deliver her a phone.
Director Caza, Novia’s Family and myself would be eternally grateful if you could inquire into Novia’s situation, and give some explination as to how and why it is that Novia has not reached out to anyone. My obligation and duty, as her Captain, demand I persue this matter to it’s resolution.
Sincery,
Capt. Curtis John Nettleship
Ph: 951 234 7063
442 400 1266