German NSA Critic Denied Entry To the US 352
An anonymous reader writes "Major newspapers in Germany (FAZ, Die Welt, SZ, ...) and the Huffington Post report that the author Ilja Trojanow has been prevented from boarding a plane from Salvador da Bahia to the U.S. where he was invited to attend a conference. He had ESTA documents showing that his visit was approved as part of the Visa Waiver Program and was last year given a visa to teach at the university of Saint Louis. Trojanow was one of the initiators of an open letter (Google translation to English) urging Chancellor Merkel to take actions against NSA surveillance in Germany."
Re:Remember all those times Bush blocked... (Score:1, Informative)
there is no right to enter the USA unless you are a citizen
Sigh ... (Score:5, Informative)
... the story only shows that German media outlets are not familiar with US entry regulations. He says that he was denied a visa last year [faz.net], which automatically disqualifies him from the visa waiver program. This is just a garden-variety ESTA issue, and most likely has nothing to do with his stance of the NSA surveillance.
Re:Sigh ... (Score:4, Informative)
From googles translate, but it doesn't to me like he was denied as it was eventually issued?
Re:Remember all those times Bush blocked... (Score:3, Informative)
No, but I do remember when artists critical of the war were denied entry into the United States under Bush...
Untrue the visa was given afterward (Score:5, Informative)
Already last year had firstly denied the american consulat in Munic the request for work visa as guest professor in university st louis, and only after protest of the university et delay , with which made a part of the semester useless , gave the visa.
Therefore this is all US BS.
Re:Remember all those times Bush blocked... (Score:3, Informative)
Yeah... During the last administration, dubya's critics and political opponents (Up to and including Ted Kennedy, for example.) just happened to mysteriously and "accidentally" find themselves accused of being terrorists and placed on the no-fly list.
Yup. No abuse of power or civil liberties there. Nosirrre bob.
Re:Remember all those times Bush blocked... (Score:5, Informative)
The last time I checked US embassies principally do not dispense explanations for refusing visa applications denied for political reasons. All you get is a politely worded letter that boils down to a big fat NO.
He's German. He doesn't need a visa....
Re:Remember all those times Bush blocked... (Score:5, Informative)
Adam Habib was denied entrance [washingtontimes.com] in 2006.
Re:Plus he had an ESTA confirmation (Score:5, Informative)
That, and he also had an ESTA confirmation. His name should not have been on the secret no-fly list and there shouldn't be a secret no-fly list in the first place.
the esta means that he wasn't on the no-fly list. that's pretty much the point of the esta. and also to extract money from everyone visiting but that's another thing.
that he was denied after that means that he is on some other secret list. isn't it wonderful to have multiple secret lists of "unwanted" people?
Re:Sigh ... (Score:4, Informative)
No, being denied a visa does not make you ineligible for the visa waiver program. You are however cautioned that if the immigration officer determines you're coming on a visa waiver to do whatever it was you needed a visa for, you can be denied entry.
I've been denied a visa in the past (and just like this German guy, my visa was ultimately issued after some extra paperwork round-trips) but I've never had any trouble entering the US under the visa waiver program.
Re:And with that ... (Score:5, Informative)
Also, putting aside the specific letter of the law, free speech is considered to be an inalienable right to all men. So, you would have to claim that non-Americans aren't human in order to deny them a human right.
Re:Remember all those times Bush blocked... (Score:1, Informative)
Look... it's a tea party member.... you can tell by the quality of dialogue
Re:Arm Bands (Score:4, Informative)
...and don't forget the good ol' Bellamy Salute [wikipedia.org], as American as apple pie.
Re:Mod Up (Score:2, Informative)
Switzerland, Austria, Kenya (Score:5, Informative)
"We are the country that hosts the damn UN."
Except Switzerland, Austria, and Kenya.
Geneva - "The United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) is the second largest United Nations centre after the Headquarters in New York. UNOG is housed in the Palais des Nations, an outstanding testimony to twentieth century architecture, situated in a beautiful park overlooking Lake Geneva, with a splendid view of the Alps and, on a clear day, Mont Blanc.
The League of Nations was established in 1919 following the devastation caused by the First World War. It was decided to erect a building at par with the League’s aspirations for the creation of a more stable world. The Palais was erected between 1929 and 1938 and donations from Member States have largely contributed to its interior design.
The Palais stands in the 45-hectare Ariana Park among majestic trees many of which are over 100 years old. The City of Geneva has made the park available to the United Nations for its offices for as long as the United Nations exists."
Vienna - "Along with New York, Geneva and Nairobi, Vienna is one of the four headquarters of the United Nations. The Vienna International Centre (VIC), commonly known as "UN City", was designed by Austrian architect Johann Staber and construction costs were borne by the host country. Opened on 23 August 1979, it has been rented to the United Nations for 99 years at a symbolic rate of 1 Austrian schilling (7 Euro cents) annually.
The VIC complex, which covers an area of 180,000 m, has extraterritorial status; it accommodates about 4,200 international civil servants from over 100 countries and its 14 conference rooms host an average of 2,000 conferences annually. Located at the Centre are the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO PrepCom), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), as well as a number of smaller UN Offices and entities.
On daily guided tours, visitors can learn about the work of the United Nations and experience the Vienna International Centre's striking architecture and vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere. Special programmes for children and school groups are available and visitors can also book a lecture or specialized tour on the art on display at the VIC."
Nairobi - "Established in 1996, the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON) is the only UN Headquarters in Africa and in the global south. The United Nations compound is located in Gigiri, on the outskirts of Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, which is said to enjoy an almost perfect climate with warm sunny days and cool evenings.
The UN presence in Kenya dates back to the 1950s when Kenya was still a colony of the United Kingdom. After Kenya gained its independence in 1963, the UN expanded its presence in the country, especially when it became host to the fledgling United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1973. Originally located at Uchumi House in the Nairobi city centre, UNEP was soon moved to the Kenyatta Conference Centre in 1974, before moving to its current location in Gigiri in 1975. In 1978, United Nations Centre for Human Settlements, now known as United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) also joined UNEP in Gigiri.
The Visitors’ Service in Nairobi conducts guided tours on Mondays to Fridays, year-round. Visitors are briefed on the role of the United Nations as well as the functions of its funds, programmes and specialized agencies, especially those based in Nairobi. Special briefings by representatives of various UN offices in Kenya are also offered upon request. Following the briefing, visitors enjoy a walking tour of the complex which includes stops at various symbolic gifts donated to the UN, including the 1998 Bomb-blast Memorial Garden, which pays tribute to the in
Re:Wrong and Missing the Point (Score:5, Informative)
a country is soveriegn and its right to refuse access to any non-citizen is absolute.
this cannot really be argued, and i wont really argue against that concept.
however, this case isn't really about that.
this is man who has in the past been allowed to come and speak, indeed he was doing it again. and he happens to be critical of the NSA and its spying, and he has influence (apparently) in his home country, and so called on his governemtn to call the US on their NSA spying of the entire internet and say "wtf, eh?!"
so while the right to deny access is absolute, the reasons behind this particular case being denied at this particular time, when he hasnt been int he past, are very VERY suspect, and ultimately likely intended to silence dissent and criticism. and THAT is something i can and will argue against: the willful exclusion of dissenting voices, when many of those same voices already exist inside our borders, the willful exlcusion of an intelligent man here to speak on that very topic, etc. that isnt right, and is an attempt at damage control, at keeping the dissent within from spreading. that aint right.