Exclusive: U.S. embassies ordered to identify population groups for tougher visa screening

[brooklynite]

Source: Reuters

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has directed U.S. diplomatic missions to identify "populations warranting increased scrutiny" and toughen screening for visa applicants in those groups, according to diplomatic cables seen by Reuters.

He has also ordered a "mandatory social media check" for all applicants who have ever been present in territory controlled by the Islamic State, in what two former U.S. officials said would be a broad, labor-intensive expansion of such screening. Social media screening is now done fairly rarely by consular officials, one of the former officials said.

Four cables, or memos, issued by Tillerson over the last two weeks provide insight into how the U.S. government is implementing what President Donald Trump has called "extreme vetting" of foreigners entering the United States, a major campaign promise. The cables also demonstrate the administrative and logistical hurdles the White House faces in executing its vision.

The memos, which have not been previously reported, provided instructions for implementing Trump's March 6 revised executive order temporarily barring visitors from six Muslim-majority countries and all refugees, as well as a simultaneous memorandum mandating enhanced visa screening.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-visas-exclusive-idUSKBN16U12X

[HoneyBadger]

1. Social media never truly disappears

This will haunt people for the rest of their lives. Be prepared to answer questions on why you posted to the Naked Party Lizards group 60 years earlier.

[IronLionZion]

2. Check their visits to radical extremist sites like Breitbart, Stormfront, etc.

[Jonny Appleseed]

3. How do you do a social media check?

Who would use their real name posting on political sites anyways?

[PatSeg]

4. There already is a "travel ban" in effect

Every day we hear more stories of people from all over the world being denied entry into the United States.

Last night, Samantha Bee mentioned the annual African Trade Summit in California - there were no African citizens in attendance, as none were granted visas.

An annual African trade summit in California had no African attendees this year after at least 60 people were denied visas, according to event leaders.

The African Global Economic and Development Summit, a three-day conference at the University of Southern California (USC), typically brings delegations from across Africa to meet with business leaders in the US in an effort to foster partnerships. But this year, every single African citizen who requested a visa was rejected, according to organizer Mary Flowers.


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Some are now questioning whether the denials to the Los Angeles event could be tied to the anti-immigration policies of Donald Trump, who is pushing forward with a travel ban against six Muslim-majority countries despite ongoing legal challenges.

Flowers said roughly 60 to 100 people from at least a dozen nations were denied entry to the summit, which went on as planned with a much smaller group last Thursday through Saturday.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/20/no-african-citizens-visas-california-annual-trade-summit

[BumRushDaShow]

6. "denials to the Los Angeles event could be tied to the anti-immigration policies"

It probably is. To the ignorant elected GOPers, "Africa" = "a country" and with Sudan, et al on the list, they probably broad-brushed all 54 countries on the continent to make sure they didn't miss any.

[PatSeg]

7. A businessman from Argentina

who owned an art gallery in New York was detained for fourteen hours, without food and eventually denied entry. A doctor from Canada, as well as specialty nurses who actually worked in the United states were denied entry. There was a band from Italy, who was booked for an event in the United States and they were stopped and turned back. There doesn't even seem to be a pattern to it.

For all the stories that we hear, how many more are there? Trump is just building a "wall" around the entire U.S.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Yup - heard about all of those

and I know that there are now student groups who are cancelling trips here (like the Girl Guides of Canada) due to a fear of being detained.

It's just insane and the GOP leadership is so obsessively tied up in their quest for power and enacting their agenda that they are watching Rome burn while they fiddle.

[PatSeg]

9. The repercussions of these policies

are going to be serious and far reaching. It will affect diplomacy and our economy in ways that we can't begin to comprehend. I guess that is to be expected when you have people running the country who know nothing about government. Well, Bannon might know, but he hates government so he is probably enjoying watching Rome burn.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. Exactly

although I think we comprehend the consequences but the current occupants of the WH and certain key figures in Congress, seems oblivious to them due to their blind focus on jamming everything they ever fantasized about into law as fast as they can.

It's literally like they are doing a last ditch blitz with little concern for the significant "collateral damage" that it will cause to this nation and its economy.

[PatSeg]

11. Many of them seem to have tunnel vision

They focus on their objectives and of course winning, to the point of being oblivious to the long term repercussions. They would destroy the world they live in to achieve a particular goal and seem to be incapable of admitting they are wrong.

The one thing I've noticed about republicans is that this is all sport to them and winning trumps everything else.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. +1

[BumRushDaShow]

5. They need to start with anyone going in and out of Trump Tower. nt