What kind of country does this?

[taxlady]

Open City
Coffee, Tea or Handcuffs?
An Australian journalist gets a taste of Department of Homeland Security hospitality
by Steven Mikulan

Read the full story here.

Comments

[joshghiloni.livejournal.com]

I'll stand up for my country here :) I think a more fair question would be "What kind of country sets up strict security policies--policies that I think are not without merit--and then hires any power-hungry, G.E.D-weilding, slack-jawed jackass that applies to enforce said policies?"

[taxlady.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, they could do a better job in hiring...

But, why should journalists need a special visa? I don't understand what that has to do with security. I always figured that residents of the U.S. got some of their personal security from having free and uncensored journalism.

[joshghiloni.livejournal.com]

I could be talking out of my ass here, but I think that an I-visa is for any foreign national wishing to work in the US. I'm a bit too lazy to actually look that up, though. And I totally agree with you. I just happen to think that this article frames Americans poorly, no matter how hard it tried not to. I hate the CBP and the TSA and the DHS too. :)

[taxlady.livejournal.com]

I didn't know what an I Visa was, so once you reminded me, I did a google search and found this page. It has lots more info, but here's a short quote:

"An I visa, is a nonimmigrant visa which allows bona fide foreign nationals who are the representatives of foreign press, radio, film, or other foreign information media to enter the U.S. in connection with the production of documentaries or newsworthy events."