A prominent hedge fund executive was denied entry into the United States and deported from Los Angeles International Airport after being held in federal custody for more than 24 hours over alleged immigration violations.
Jasmina Midzic, a Croatian national and CEO of Miami-based Typhon Capital Management, was reportedly detained for 26 hours before being placed on a return flight to the United Kingdom. U.S. authorities allege she had been conducting financial activities, including capital raising, while in the U.S. on a tourist visa — a breach of immigration regulations.
Midzic, 36, had arrived from London to attend the Milken Institute Global Conference, a high-profile gathering of finance and policy leaders that draws attendees such as Elon Musk and First Lady Jill Biden. She was stopped by immigration officials upon landing in Los Angeles and denied entry.
According to law enforcement sources, the case falls within a broader federal crackdown on foreign nationals suspected of engaging in unauthorized business activities while in the U.S. on non-work visas. The initiative has intensified under President Donald Trump’s second term, with increased scrutiny of sectors such as finance, consulting, and technology.
Midzic has denied any wrongdoing. Speaking through representatives, she suggested her European background and her lack of interest in pursuing U.S. citizenship may have factored into the government’s decision. Her employer, James Koutoulas — founder of Typhon Capital and affiliated firm JurisTrade — dismissed the allegations, warning that “any defamatory insinuation” would be met with legal action.
“Jasmina has violated no U.S. law, and this incident reflects a disturbing overreach that we intend to challenge,” Koutoulas said in a statement.
Typhon Capital, which manages approximately $250 million in assets, has come under increased attention from regulators in recent months. Midzic, often featured on social media attending exclusive events in the French Alps and Mediterranean resorts, has become a visible figure in global finance circles.
The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on the specifics of the case.
Midzic’s detention is one in a string of recent enforcement actions targeting foreign professionals. Becky Burke, a British national, was held for 19 days at the U.S.-Canada border earlier this year following a visa classification dispute. Legal experts warn that such cases reflect a hardening of immigration policy that increasingly entangles legitimate international business travel.
Immigration advocates say the pattern raises serious concerns. “We’re seeing a growing number of professionals detained under vague pretexts,” said one attorney involved in similar cases. “It’s a troubling shift with implications for due process and international mobility.”
Human rights organizations have voiced concern over the administration’s expanding use of immigration enforcement against foreign executives, particularly in sectors not traditionally linked to labor violations.
