Oliver Costich wrote in
news:77t4d09738rsk74frvt7bk64pcjdt57jij@4ax.com:
> On 14 Jun 2004 17:11:35 GMT, Alun wrote:
>
>>Oliver Costich wrote in
>>news:f3m6c01c4iv9fetbdpqsj51ub39dgjq3br@4ax.com:
>>
>>> On 06 Jun 2004 17:51:43 +0000, "mark" wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Sat, 5 Jun 2004 12:59:12 -0400, "Observer" wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Why should BCIS give any alien a break whether that person is a
>>>>> reporter or ordinary visitor.
>>>>
>>>>I don't think "not treating someone as if they were a convicted
>>>>terrorist" is equivalent to "giving someone a break". If she was simply
>>>>refused entry and turned back, that would be one thing - the issue is
>>>>the obscene treament she experienced.
>>>>
>>>>> So, this reporter tried to enter US without proper visa is BCIS
>>>>> fault?
>>>>
>>>>No, but what they did to her is fully their fault. Even if you don't
>>>>care at all about human rights, it's still a waste of money and
>>>>resources to lock her up like that.
>>>>
>>>>mark
>>>
>>>
>>> Should they have given her a suite in a hotel?
>>>
>>>
>>
>>Maybe not, but putting people in cells for not having the right visa is
>>obscene.
>
> Where should she have been held?
>
I don't know, but going to jail when you have never broken any law is a
major trauma. Most people would react in a very negative way to that, and
you can't possibly blame anyone for doing so. If you jail a journalist who
has not broken the law, then you are going to be featured in the newspaper,
and you shouldn't expect not to be.
Of course, you might try to argue that not having the correct visa is
breaking the law, but in reality it's just an irregularity in
documentation, and it could happen to anyone. If you treat ordinary
travellers like common criminals and still expect foreigners to respect
you, it ain't gonna happen.
I appreciate that something has to be done with them in between refusing
entry and waiting for the next plane out. Maybe they should have provided
more suitable accomodation and billed her for it?
Of course, if you don't care about the image your country presents
overseas, and want to be presented in foreign newspapers as hard-assed
morons, then go ahead and use jail cells! |