HumblePi
DP Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2018
- Messages
- 28,007
- Reaction score
- 21,002
- Gender
- Undisclosed
- Political Leaning
- Moderate
Australian with working visa detained and deported on returning to US from sister's memorial
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news...th-us-working-visa-detained-insulted-deportedMan who says he had previously left and re-entered the country multiple times alleges border officials called him 'retarded' and boasted 'Trump is back in town'
When Jonathan returned from the US to Australia for a quick trip to scatter his sister's ashes, he packed only two changes of clothes, leaving enough space in his small bag to carry the empty ashes urn to his home in the US. The trip was so brief he didn't even pack a laptop charger.
The Australian says he was detained and deported when returning from the memorial in March, despite holding a working visa still valid for more than a year. He has been living on the US east coast for the better part of a decade – where his American partner, apartment, work studio and clients remain.
"I thought I was just going to be given my passport and sent on my way, or maybe asked a couple of questions, but they made some pretty outlandish accusations. They said, 'We know you have two mobile phones. We've been tracking your calls. We know you've been selling drugs'."
He says he told the border officer he did not drink, smoke or take drugs and owned just one phone. He was asked for his passcode.
"That didn't sound right. I asked to talk to a lawyer and they told me I had no rights." He says he was given a brochure explaining that he must surrender his phone and so handed it over, along with his smartwatch.
He says things "seemed really ****ing weird" but he was careful to remain "overly polite". He says when he asked the officer to repeat a comment he hadn't heard, the man replied: "Are you deaf or just retarded?"
Jonathan says the official suggested he was carrying human remains and sent for Centers for Disease Control agents to assess the empty ashes urn. He says when he explained he had been living in the US for more than five years, he was asked: "Oh you live here, do you?"
Jonathan says: "Then he told me I didn't have the right visa – apparently saying I lived there showed that I had intent to stay and not leave."
He says his visa was still valid for more than 12 months and he had left and re-entered the US without any problems about 20 times holding the same class of visa.
He says the official then told him: "Trump is back in town; we're doing things the way we should have always been doing them."
He says after a day and a half his name was called out and he was escorted by an armed guard to meet a flight to Australia. Just before boarding – he was the first passenger on to the plane – he was passed an envelope containing his phone and watch. His passport was handed to him shortly before landing.
"They didn't give me any valid reasons for cancelling my visa. I've spoken to a bunch of lawyers and they all say I could fight it but that it would cost thousands and probably take five years anyway."
He says he has been told he can apply for a new visa, but that he would need to get a waiver to do so.
"Even if they recommend me for a waiver, it goes through Homeland Security and they are under a directive to not let people back in who have been kicked out," he says.
_______________________________________________________
I hope Trump supporters read this because this is our future. The Trump 'goons' are no different from the goons under Maduro in Venezuela. They're sick, cruel bastards. This man has a legal visa, so let's get that fact straight before you all go running with your hair on fire screaming "illegal alien!!". Immigration guards in Florida treat people exactly the same, with contempt, disrespect and insulting to people entering the U.S. from other countries.
Foreign students are being deported for getting a speeding ticket. We are living in a Nazi police state.
