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America's border control system is so broken that it saddens me to see posts like this that reek of sensationalism (I mean, it's Vice) and hide the fact that, y

by jmduke 13y ago

America's border control system is so broken that it saddens me to see posts like this that reek of sensationalism (I mean, it's Vice) and hide the fact that, you know, he didn't have a valid visa. I'm having trouble understanding what was so deplorable about this story besides the reprehensible treatment by the officials (which, again, seems exaggerated)? Am I misreading the story or is refusal to enter the country not the proper response to not having the correct documentation?

machrider 13y ago
Do you need a visa to visit the US for a couple weeks? He did have a passport.
- MichaelGG 13y ago
  If he's German, then he can use ESTA if he qualifies for the Visa Waiver Program. But performing for compensation (tips + food) is probably technically work so that wouldn't help, and he'd need a work visa, like he says in the article.
philwelch 13y ago
> I'm having trouble understanding what was so deplorable about this story besides the reprehensible treatment by the officials (which, again, seems exaggerated)? "Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
- jmduke 13y ago
  Right, but Abraham Lincoln did nothing wrong by going to the play and the author did something wrong (I don't mean in a moral sense, but in a sense of 'incorrect') by going to the United States without the proper visa.
  - philwelch 13y ago
    Well that's a tortured analogy if I've ever seen one.
    - jmduke 13y ago
      Yeah, my point is that the two are in no way analogous.
      - philwelch 13y ago
        It's a common expression. [1] In this context it means: this guy's treatment by the customs & border officials was so reprehensible and abusive that his legal right to enter the US is beside the point, just like how the actual merits of the play were beside the point for Mrs. Lincoln. [1] https://www.google.com/#q=other%20than%20that%20mrs.%20lincoln%20how%20was%20the%20play https://www.google.com/#q=other%20than%20that%20mrs.%20linco...

by jmduke 13y ago

machrider 13y ago

Do you need a visa to visit the US for a couple weeks? He did have a passport.

MichaelGG 13y ago
If he's German, then he can use ESTA if he qualifies for the Visa Waiver Program. But performing for compensation (tips + food) is probably technically work so that wouldn't help, and he'd need a work visa, like he says in the article.

philwelch 13y ago

> I'm having trouble understanding what was so deplorable about this story besides the reprehensible treatment by the officials (which, again, seems exaggerated)? "Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"

jmduke 13y ago
Right, but Abraham Lincoln did nothing wrong by going to the play and the author did something wrong (I don't mean in a moral sense, but in a sense of 'incorrect') by going to the United States without the proper visa.
- philwelch 13y ago
  Well that's a tortured analogy if I've ever seen one.
  - jmduke 13y ago
    Yeah, my point is that the two are in no way analogous.
    - philwelch 13y ago
      It's a common expression. [1] In this context it means: this guy's treatment by the customs & border officials was so reprehensible and abusive that his legal right to enter the US is beside the point, just like how the actual merits of the play were beside the point for Mrs. Lincoln. [1] https://www.google.com/#q=other%20than%20that%20mrs.%20lincoln%20how%20was%20the%20play https://www.google.com/#q=other%20than%20that%20mrs.%20linco...