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jackspratt
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Welcome to the US Ma'am

Post by jackspratt » December 29, 2007, 11:54 am




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Bandung_Dero
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Post by Bandung_Dero » December 30, 2007, 8:43 am

OK if all of that which has been related here is true she wasn't treated very well and it would be interesting to get the other side of the story. There is one serious question here. How did she get a visa into the USA on this and other occasions after breaking US law? Passport shuffle!

Maybe a US citizen can tell us the penalties if a visitor commits an overstay.
Sent from my 1977 Apple II using 2 Heinz bake bean cans and piano wire!

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jackspratt
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Post by jackspratt » December 30, 2007, 8:57 am

From my understanding EU citizens do not require a visa for the US, and Iceland is treated as being part of the US for this purpose.

If you read the blogs at the end of the story you can see that some high up honcho in ICE has issued an apology to the Icelandic ambassador, so the basis of the story appears to be true.

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Post by Ricohoc » December 30, 2007, 9:47 am

First, after seeing all the absurd links on the web site where this is located made me wonder why I didn't see a link to "Lying Bush, Evil America."

Second, after 9-11, if you are illegal in any way, you have violated US law, and it is taken seriously.

Third, she was not beaten or tortured. She went through a process of detention after being identified as overstaying.

Fourth, I'm trying to figure out that if she was so tired and run down, how did she remember everything in such detail.

Fifth, where were all of her friends with whom she arrived? Did they abandon her? Why didn't they call someone?

This looks like nothing but a bunch of hooey.

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Post by dbriggins » December 30, 2007, 10:08 am

There are always "other sides" to stories. But working with the government as I do, I know that there are a pretty fair share of people in places of authority who are in serious need of a high-colonic. I also know, dealing with customer service, that assholes abound, and public service personnel bear the brunt of their tirades. We <i>never</i> hear the complete story. We only hear whatever is needed to put a point across. So consider, whenever you hear an inflammatory story such as this, where is it coming from, and what point is being made? It does no good to question the story, but we should always question the <i>purposes</i> of the people spreading the story.

So a woman was deported for a 12 year old visa infraction. Her treatment was procedural, and her treatment, while not pleasant, was far from cruel or criminal. I have no doubt that <i>some</i> of the people she had to deal with were probably typical federal idiots. They exist everywhere, from our prisons to our military to our convenience stores. It's human nature to inflate self-importance, get over it.

All in all, it's a tempest in a teapot, but a very important one, because it hits at the root of what's been going on in this country since 9/11: We have given up essential freedoms for the illusion of security. Any people who are willing to do so deserve neither.

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jackspratt
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Post by jackspratt » December 30, 2007, 11:35 am

Lets see then - you overstay your visa 12 years ago (1995 - well before 9/11 if my maths are correct).

The reaction by the authorities (or as Rico so nicely puts it - process of detention):

- chained and shackled

- denied food and water

- denied communication with family/embassy

- strip searched and (apparently) internally searched

- imprisoned

- denied sleep

- deported

So is this a procedure in proportion with the "crime"? I guess she ought to be thankful they didn't send her Guantanamo.

If you read the article again Rico, you will see her friends and others were in contact with family and embassy, but they were given misleading information.

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Post by Ricohoc » December 30, 2007, 12:13 pm

jackspratt wrote:- chained and shackled
If detained, there is a process. One does not just sit there freely. That is a process with anyone -- white, blonde, black, Hispanic, whatever ...
- denied food and water
She received some food as I read it. She just didn't like the food. Maybe they should have given her a menu from GITMO.
- denied communication with family/embassy
She was not denied communication. She was denied access to her cell phone and to long distance calls.
- strip searched and (apparently) internally searched
Another detention requirement.
- imprisoned
Held until status was determined.
- denied sleep
She could have slept at any time. She just didn't like the accommodations.
- deported
Usually happens when one breaks the rules.

Face it, Jack. You celebrate any isolated controversial situation that is negative toward America -- and then exaggerate it.

Happy New Year, my friend.

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jackspratt
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Post by jackspratt » December 30, 2007, 12:23 pm

Ricohoc wrote:
- deported
Usually happens when one breaks the rules.
Correct - that is what happens in other more enlightened places, without all the preceding "overkill".

Happy new year to you also Rico - maybe we will meet one day in Udon, and you can buy me a beer :D

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Maligator
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Post by Maligator » December 30, 2007, 4:16 pm

Lets see then - you overstay your visa 12 years ago (1995 - well before 9/11 if my maths are correct).

The reaction by the authorities (or as Rico so nicely puts it - process of detention):

- chained and shackled

- denied food and water

- denied communication with family/embassy

- strip searched and (apparently) internally searched

- imprisoned

- denied sleep

- deported
Yeah so.....??
I guess she ought to be thankful they didn't send her Guantanamo.
They friggin shoulda sent her ass there!!!!
and kept the sandbag on her head for 10 years.

Correct - that is what happens in other more enlightened places, without all the preceding "overkill".
Enlightened places?? Where?
Come stay down here on the US/Mexican border and see what really goes on every day that isn't in the liberal media.
There IS a major immigration problem here and it's time to get tough on it.
After about 11 million "overstays" it's 'bout time.

Why don't you overstay on your visa here in Thailand?
Because maybe you don't wanna go to a thai monkey house ??
Why not? Are they not nice places to be also??
:?

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jackspratt
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Post by jackspratt » December 30, 2007, 4:35 pm

All this for something that happened 12 years ago.

Really, a lot of perspective got lost after 9/11, didn't it.

Very sad!

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Post by uncle tom » December 30, 2007, 5:16 pm

Please read the rest of the articles on the web site http://www.sott.net/ and you will probably come to same conclusion that I did. The entire website is dedicated to bashing the US and is full of lies and exaggerations. I do not believe that Ms Eva Ósk Arnardóttir even exists.
I am ashamed of my country's actions since 9/11, but I am looking for truth not lies.

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jackspratt
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Post by jackspratt » December 30, 2007, 5:35 pm

Ah! - attack the messenger.

As it happens, I did read a few of the articles in sott.net, and it seems to be attacking the loss of freedoms and the attacks on democracy by the executive government in the US, rather than just bashing (there goes that tired old pejorative again).

The Associated Press news wire service, and the International Herald Tribune apparently believe Ms Arnardóttir exists, and what she experienced:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/ ... and-US.php

as does Stewart Baker, Assistant Secretary for Policy for the US Ministry of Homeland Security, who has apologised.

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Post by Ricohoc » December 30, 2007, 6:02 pm

uncle tom wrote:Please read the rest of the articles on the web site http://www.sott.net/ and you will probably come to same conclusion that I did. The entire website is dedicated to bashing the US and is full of lies and exaggerations.
BINGO! 8)

Lying Dictator Bush, Evil America.

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Post by aznyron » December 30, 2007, 6:14 pm

when you give up freedom for security you have neither
the Patriot act is violation on our civil liberaties and should be scrapped
as for visa you are allowed to stay for six months after that you are in violation
USA does not care about you when you are leaving the country it when you are entering it they want to know who you are. but if you overstay it will be differcult to get back in the next time you visit and like thailand they want to see a return ticket to your home land and all countries from europe must get a visa from what I understand

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Post by tony525 » December 30, 2007, 9:13 pm

all EU countries with the exception of Greece are allowed to enter USA without a visa for a 90 day stay. Other countries must have a visa issued abroad and are allowed a 6 months stay. (although one cannot stay more than 6-months in one year)
Visa free countries also include: Japan, Australia, NZ, and Singapore.

The Law says that anyone overstaying a visa for less than 1 month , can re-enter USA only after 5 years. People who overstay more than 1 month , will be allowed to enter USA after 10 years. So she overstayed in 2005 and less than 1 month. As she entered the US on Dec 2007, she did not break any laws .

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