I came across this article yesterday.
The article talks about a lady from Iceland, and her recent experience visiting the US.
It went fine enough until, upon going through Immigration, it was noticed that she had overstayed her visa on a visit in 1995. At this point her experience turned into something like a horror movie. She was detained, questioned, denied food for 14 hours, denied making any contact (Until they presented her with a phone that could make collect-only calls, but was unable to make international calls, heh), chained, cuffed, jailed overnight, etc.
It really makes you wonder what our society has come to, when for all intents of purpose innocent people, are treated like criminals.
Not that American society at large probably cares – after all, it won’t happen to US. No – we’ll go on and live our picture-perfect lives.
People sometimes ask me “If you dislike America so much, why do you stay here?” I dunno – I ask myself the same question every time I come across situations like this.
I ask myself the same question as well. I’ve been questioned, harrassed at immigration but fortunately never cuffed or jailed. An immigration once incorrectly decided that I had overstayed my visa, and put a mark on my permanent record. This incorrect note is has been affecting my ability to get smooth immigration benefits for a long time.
I guess the reason that I do stay is that in the end, the balance of positive factors of quality of life (good job, good place to live) outweigh the negative ones (getting harassed at immigration, not being able to get good health benefits for my fiancee, a government that is despised around the world and spies on their own).
re your rlp blog spam comment – i’m interested in the sa solution
email me back
cheers
tim