Perhaps because recent events have me grasping for sources of positive news from Americans, I am touched by the sincerity and tone of this letter. I would much rather believe that the attitude expressed in this letter is that of most Americans.
Jordanian citizen was denied re-entry to the US on eve of his PhD defense at JHU
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Re: Jordanian citizen was denied re-entry to the US on eve of his PhD defense at JHU
#12I wonder if this is one of those vague "security" problems. It seems like if people get denied for normal stuff (overstaying, violating their visas, etc) they're told and can at least fight it a little.
But when you get a black mark against you it seems like you get stuck in an administrative blackhole where nobody is authorised to tell you WHY or they themselves don't know.
It was the same way with the no-fly list for the longest time too, but because that wound up impacting a few powerful Americans it was eventually sorted so now you can at least fight it a little or do additional background checks to get off of it.
The worst part is that these security black marks seem fairly easy to get: family member or friend a "terrorist?" Share a name with someone "bad?" You're now on it. And nobody you can actually talk to can either tell you why or has the authority to remove you.
I would blame it on bureaucracy, but that is an easy out for a policy which is partly intentional -- Americans don't want people visiting, working, or studying on their shores. They have made that abundantly clear over the last ten years.
Re: Jordanian citizen was denied re-entry to the US on eve of his PhD defense at JHU
#13Their decision was probably based in some way (assuming it's based on available information, which is admittedly risky) in his marriage to a foreign national while expressing interest in moving to the states, and the embassy's reluctance to chance him violating his visa permissions and in some way moving here with his wife in a permanent resident-alien w/o a visa type manner. Not claiming to know anything special, bu…
Most likely there was a legitimate reason
Why make that presumption?
Re: Jordanian citizen was denied re-entry to the US on eve of his PhD defense at JHU
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
Research universities are phenomenally expensive and heavily subsidized creatures. This guy received $250k in government grants that paid his tuition and stipend.
He also devoted all his time and might to do research. It's not like he was sitting staring at a wall
VERY CORRECT! I really wish more people thought like this...
Re: Jordanian citizen was denied re-entry to the US on eve of his PhD defense at JHU
#15Are we going to trawl up and link every single case of someone being denied re-entry to the US? It's just getting rather tedious. Though as the constant karma farming off similarly tedious and usually poorly researched and written blog posts of the last week continues unabated perhaps I am in a minority of readers who gets their news from decent sources and likes to come to HN for interesting technical articles.
I think HN is seriously at risk of having jumped the shark for good. This NSA thing blew the lid off - the front page is completely full of articles about politics, with more each day about all kinds of different things.
I suppose things may settle down again - they have after other big events, but... I worry, I worry.
(And for the record, for those who conflate not wanting to see every article about this with not caring about it - I care about it deeply)
Re: Jordanian citizen was denied re-entry to the US on eve of his PhD defense at JHU
#16Unless you walked through Alaska on a land bridge, you too are an immigrant. We can either embrace the strength of a democracy to turn the huddled masses into a productive force for good or we can choose to turn inward. Guided by fear, we are making the wrong choice.
Re: Jordanian citizen was denied re-entry to the US on eve of his PhD defense at JHU
#17Their decision was probably based in some way (assuming it's based on available information, which is admittedly risky) in his marriage to a foreign national while expressing interest in moving to the states, and the embassy's reluctance to chance him violating his visa permissions and in some way moving here with his wife in a permanent resident-alien w/o a visa type manner. Not claiming to know anything special, bu…
Most likely there was a legitimate reason Why make that presumption?
Simply because the vast majority of cases regarding visas/entry into the United States are determined by strict procedure and in accordance with the law. So most likely, as in the majority of cases, there is a reason we're not able to see here, for national security or one-sidedness.
Re: Jordanian citizen was denied re-entry to the US on eve of his PhD defense at JHU
#18Their decision was probably based in some way (assuming it's based on available information, which is admittedly risky) in his marriage to a foreign national while expressing interest in moving to the states, and the embassy's reluctance to chance him violating his visa permissions and in some way moving here with his wife in a permanent resident-alien w/o a visa type manner. Not claiming to know anything special, bu…
I have been told by other foreign graduate students that getting married in another country (possibly even married at all) violates that student visa agreements. One girl is French and marrying an American, she was told that if she goes to France to have a wedding ceremony that she would not be allowed back in to America. This sounds exactly like what happened to this student. It's shameful and bizarre, but it appears like these are the rules however poorly they are communicated (my friend had NO idea as the university filled out her visa application and did so incorrectly 4 years ago).
Re: Jordanian citizen was denied re-entry to the US on eve of his PhD defense at JHU
#19I wonder if this is one of those vague "security" problems. It seems like if people get denied for normal stuff (overstaying, violating their visas, etc) they're told and can at least fight it a little. But when you get a black mark against you it seems like you get stuck in an administrative blackhole where nobody is authorised to tell you WHY or they themselves don't know. It was the same way with the no-fly list f…
It's actually good security practice. If the terrorist's find out they got flagged because of X, now they know not to do X any more.
Re: Jordanian citizen was denied re-entry to the US on eve of his PhD defense at JHU
#20Are we going to trawl up and link every single case of someone being denied re-entry to the US? It's just getting rather tedious. Though as the constant karma farming off similarly tedious and usually poorly researched and written blog posts of the last week continues unabated perhaps I am in a minority of readers who gets their news from decent sources and likes to come to HN for interesting technical articles.
Hmmm, I think HN is pretty great for interesting news from decent sources (usually Atlantic, NYT, New Yorker, etc). I also think people getting questionably denied entrance to the US is pretty newsworthy given the bomb that has been dropped in the last few days. Maybe don't click if it doesn't interest you?