If you were on social media last night you would of heard that Dane Reynolds was detained in Portugal for two days after losing his passport. Dane was on a Surfer trip with filmmaker Mini Blanchard when he arrived at Lisbon airport sans passport.
Immigration has been in the news everywhere. And with the issues Europe has faced with extremists, perhaps the authorities in Lisbon were instructed to doll out the full force of the law. So, just like that Reynolds was detained. They took his phone, backpack and even the shoelaces in his Vans.
Mini, a long-time friend of Dane’s broke the news on Instagram. At the time, the US Embassy had done little to free Dane and Mini was outraged. His post read:
“Dane Reynolds is currently being held captive and treated like a criminal at the Lisbon, Portugal International Airport Jail, yes, Jail!" writes Dane's longtime filmer/pal, Jason 'Mini' Blanchard on Instagram. "All because he lost his passport! He's been there for two days now. They took his phone, backpack, even his shoelaces WTF! And to top it off, the US Embassy is doing very little to help him.”
Calls were reportedly made to the US Embassy in Portugal to apply pressure for Dane’s release. While surfers the world over where questioning the sensationalism of the story and typing the #FreeDane.
According to Surfer (who were in tow with Dane) after 48 hours immigration released Reynolds and issued him a temporary passport through the US Embassy to enter Portugal. Freedom! However, Reynolds told Surfer his experience was minor compared those currently facing immigration issues.
“It was minor, really,” he said about the two-day detention. “I feel way worse for the other guys I was in there with—just a lot of people trying to get out of their shitty situations in other countries.”
And that my friend is why you hold on to your passport!
