A college mission trip to Portugal was detoured for a collegian from Texas traveling with fellow students after she was detained at Heathrow Airport in London for more than seven hours and then sent home.

And missionary experts say her ordeal last August should serve as a reminder to those traveling abroad that foreign countries, even American allies such as Great Britain, typically have tighter controls on religious practice and speech. In such situations, looking and speaking the part of a harmless tourist might save you a headache.

Kelley Edwards, 23, a student at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas, believes what she described as harsh treatment by British authorities was due to her Christian faith.

She arrived in London on the first leg of a semester-long mission trip to Portugal with other Ouachita students, most of whom experienced no special scrutiny in customs and were to stay several days in London sightseeing. 

But Edwards and three other students were detained by security officers, not under suspicion of drug smuggling or terrorism, but on what is being officially classified as a “visa paper work” dispute.

Edwards’ recounting of events was disturbing enough that she and her father, Texas pastor and evangelist Bruce Edwards, filed a complaint with U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). In her letter to the senator, she alleges “it ultimately became apparent that the security there was profiling (targeting) young co-ed college students.”

As most international travelers are aware, heightened security has increased scrutiny and questioning at airports worldwide. Because London was only a stopping point on their way to Portugal, Edwards told officials that she and her group were tourists in London. She and the students were scheduled to be in London for a week prior to going on to Portugal.

However, while being questioned after her arrival in London by an airport official, Edwards stated that another official went through her belongings and “came running up to her saying ‘they are missionaries, they are missionaries!’” according to Edwards’ complaint sent to the senator.

Edwards told the TEXAN that while she and three others were sent back to the U.S. on a paperwork technicality, several of the officials allegedly showed a personal bias against Christianity during the detainment.

She and the other students were fingerprinted and placed in a locked cell-type room. Initially, she was not allowed to use her cell phone, and without proper currency, she could not use the pay phone.

After several hours, Edwards was allowed to contact her parents, who then made multiple calls to Heathrow Security. Edwards also said that several of the items in her luggage were never returned.

Bruce Edwards said he wanted to alert future travelers on mission trips. “If I were to do nothing after her going through all this, then I’ve sinned against that next dad who goes through that nightmare.”

Wendy Norvelle with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board said it is always good for anyone traveling to foreign countries to be knowledgeable on every occasion of visa and entry laws, which change regularly and differ country to country.

“Travel agents or services assisting with obtaining visas can be a source of current information,” Norvelle said.

Short-term mission teams, especially, should also be in touch with their contact at their destination to understand the entry and visa requirements and avoid confusion.

“At times, the same word can carry a different connotation,” Norvelle said. For example “volunteer work” can be interpreted as seeking employment.

UK requires religious worker visa

In a letter to Sen. Cornyn’s office, the U.S. consulate in London responded that “the officer felt she was traveling, and intended to act as, a missionary while in the United Kingdom.” British law requires religious work visas for clergy and permanent or short-term missionaries, regardless of one’s religion.

“The United Kingdom is a sovereign nation with the right and the responsibility to protect its borders by ensuring that those applying for entry meet all applicable rules and regulations,” the letter stated. “Just as the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., cannot influence immigration decisions made by border control officers at the U.S. port of entry, so the U.S. Embassy in London cannot intervene in immigration matters decided by UK authorities at British ports of entry.”

Edwards said he knew of no such requirement and that while the students were in England they were tourists.

Ray Franklin, associate professor of Christian missions at Ouachita Baptist University, confirmed that several students were detained and returned to the U.S., but declined an interview with the TEXAN about the incident. Students not detained continued on their trip without incident.

Tiffany Smith, SBTC missions mobilization associate, said Baptist workers who are traveling abroad should “connect and work with a missionary on the ground who is familiar with the current regulations as well as how to classify the travel. If one is in a country for a brief period of time, often people will travel as a ‘tourist.’”

Smith confirmed the consulate’s explanation of religious visa mandates: “If they do not have a missionary visa to get into the UK, then they are not allowed to do any religious work. Therefore, the only way to get in is as a tourist. In order to get a missionary visa, the team has to submit paperwork and have a letter of invitation.”

She added, “If someone is just passing through, then they are a tourist. That is all that should be said.”

If traveling to the U.K., the consulate’s letter cites the U.K. Border Agency’s website, bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/, as a source of information regarding travel and immigration issues. Also, an organization called Worldbridge provides a telephone inquiry service for U.K. visa matters. The number is 1-900-656-5000 ($3 per minute) or 1-212-796-5773 ($12 flat fee).