The depths of arbitrary stupidity that a narcissistic sociopath can bring to the task of running this country are now being tested in ways that could scarcely be imagined only a few short months ago. The most striking and visible example of this has been the stoking of a paranoid “crisis mentality” at our nation’s points of entry, specifically our International airports.
While the revolting “Muslim ban” is egregious enough on its own, it’s becoming increasingly clear that more and more foreign nationals, Muslim or not, are being deliberately prevented from entering the country by Customs officials given a blank check to deny them entry. Notably, these include people from countries with which we had enjoyed good, normal, warm relations for decades before Trump and Bannon infected our border protections with their poisonous xenophobia.
When people are treated like dirt here, they go home and tell others how they were treated. It gets around real quick, especially today. Soon enough, their anger and outrage begins to spread to that country’s lawmakers. So it’s only a matter of time until the international community retaliates for incidents like this:
Friday afternoon, the Italian trio Soviet Soviet posted a lengthy statement on Facebook explaining why it would not be keeping its U.S. tour dates this week and next: It had been deported.
The band of three young Italian men is based in Pesaro, Italy. They were traveling under ESTA, a visa waiver program that allows citizens of nearly 40 countries to come to the U.S. without a visa. On Friday they had the misfortune of landing in Seattle, Washington, a port city in what has now become the United States of Trump:
According to the group, its three members were carrying a letter from its American record label explaining that the musicians were scheduled to perform a number of "promotional," nonpaid performances in the U.S., including a live performance at member station KEXP, as well as a showcase at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.
They were denied entry for no reason whatsoever, after being subject to “hours” of questioning by agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
They were then taken to a jail and held overnight. The next day they were escorted to a plane and sent back to Italy. The three musicians say they were treated “like criminals” and there is no reason not to believe them.
But they weren’t criminals. They were musicians. The Customs agents apparently thought they needed “work visas.” They didn’t (in fact, the U.S. Customs website has a large block on its webpage urging people to “apply for ESTA Travel Authorization.”) But the Customs agents were following Trump’s clumsy Executive Order requiring “heightened vetting and screening” of those 'who seek to enter the United States on a fraudulent basis.' Whether out of fear for their jobs or genuine enjoyment at the prospect of humiliating and harassing foreigners, many seem have embraced their new discretionary powers with a vengeance.
Brian Taylor Goldstein is a prominent immigration attorney specializing in obtaining permits and visas for overseas musicians and artists who perform in the U.S. Last week Goldstein wrote an article describing the current situation faced by artists seeking to gain entry into this country to perform:
We are already receiving reports of artists being held and detained for hours upon entering the US to determine whether or not they are performing. Even artists entering as visitors for the purpose of attending a conference or “performing a showcase” are being pulled aside and, in many cases, being refused entry. Artists entering with B- 1/B-2 visas or through the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) are being pulled aside the moment they say that they are “entertainers”, “performers”, or “artists.”
When an individual is held and detained, they are subject to interrogation as well as demands to inspect their cell phones, luggage, and personal items. Any refusals can be groups for a refused entry, which will then stay on an artist’s record impeding future visas and travel.
That latter part is important because it can affect the person’s ability to travel and obtain future visas not just to travel to the U.S., but just about anywhere. As Goldstein writes:
In short, an Immigration Officer has the unfettered authority and discretion to deny entry to any artist from any nationality for any reason. To what extent this authority will be exercised remains to be seen.
Now this is very bad, but it gets worse. On February 7 of this year, during a House Homeland Security Committee meeting, incoming head of Department of Homeland Security John Kelly suggested that the department was considering requiring visa applicants to turn over their social media passwords in order to obtain approval for any visa. So the Customs agent would now be empowered to review your Facebook postings, your “likes” and any other information you have posted on any social media account, to decide whether you’re “worthy” of entering the U.S.
According to the Center for Democracy and Technology, a coalition of advocates and organizations for civil liberties, including the ACLU, Human Rights Watch, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and many others, this heinous invasion of privacy is already underway:
[W]e are concerned about the numerous reports that Customs and Border Protection officials are demanding access to digital devices and social media information from refugees, visa holders,[1] lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and US citizens.[2] These reports indicate that CBP officials are interrogating travelers about their religious and political views and scrutinizing their reading and viewing habits, news sources, and private communications.
This intensive examination of travelers’ digital lives jeopardizes the security of the United States and its citizens and others abroad. It is deeply invasive, burdens fundamental freedoms, has a discriminatory impact, and is not likely to yield useful information.
Read that last boldfaced sentence again, as it is going to come back to haunt us.
This kind of treatment of foreign visitors would be fairly unprecedented in any free society. When we start rolling down the slippery slope of demanding people’s passwords so as to scrutinize their private online social accounts, you don’t need be a soothsayer to imagine the kind of reaction you’re going to get when these people go back to their home countries. Former allies are going to retaliate by quickly passing laws singling out American travelers to their countries for similar treatment. So if you travel abroad for any reason you’ll soon have to give up your passwords and your lives will be an open book to a foreign government.
Think about that for a minute. They’ll sit there and go through your entire posting history. And if they disagree with an article or post you “liked” on Facebook, they can deny you entry. Maybe after a few hours cooling your heels in a foreign jail. From CDT’s correspondence to Kelly, this is exactly what will happen:
CBP’s actions may dramatically increase security risks to US citizens, who will likely face similar demands for access to their devices, online accounts, and passwords at foreign borders. Individuals who handle sensitive governmental or corporate information and travel to other countries, whether for business or pleasure, could be compelled to provide access to the accounts housing that information; indeed it is a small jump from requiring passwords to social media accounts to requiring passwords for email, financial, e-commerce, or other online accounts, which would unlock troves of personal information.
And if your entry is rejected, well that goes on your record too, inhibiting your future right to travel. Just like those three Italian musicians.
How many Americans would travel under these circumstances? That’s exactly the environment Trump is fostering.
Say goodbye to the rest of the world.
Update: From NBC News, yes this is really happening to U.S. Citizens returning from trips abroad.