Member Of British Punk Band Say He Was Denied Entry To USA For Anti-Trump Statements…

Another week, another US deportation under questionable circumstances. This time, I’m not jumping to any conclusions, but I do find it another interesting data point that three members (out of four) of a British punk band who were vocally against President Donald Trump were denied entry to the USA. But there also might be a much more straightforward explanation.

Three Members Of British Punk Band Denied Entry to USA: Was It For Invalid Visa Or Anti-Trump Rhetoric?

Here’s a summary of what happened, according to one of the band members:

• Bassist Alvin Gibb, a member of the punk rock band UK Subs, flew to Los Angeles (LAX) on United Airlines with his partner, Roz
• His fellow bandmembers flew on British Airways
• At LAX, Roz was granted entry but Gibb was detained
• An immigration officer told him he didn’t have the right visa for entry and “there was another issue, which they wouldn’t disclose”
• Per Gibb, “I’m now wondering if my regular and less than flattering public pronouncements regarding their president and his administration were a factor; or maybe that’s just me succumbing to paranoia.”
• Gibb was “taken by two police officers to another part of LAX and escorted to a very cold holding pen where I discovered Stefan and Marc [fellow band members] along with some Columbian, Chinese and Mexican detainees.”
• His luggage, phone and passport were taken
• At 4:00 am (he had arrived at 7:00 pm the previous night), Gibb was interviewed by “a very sympathetic female immigration officer, who even kindly went out into the airport to see if she could find Roz to update her on my situation”
• He was held until 8:00 pm the next evening and escorted directly to the United flight back to London
• Stefan and Marc were also deported on British Airways while a fourth bandmember, Charlie, was allowed into the USA
• As an aside, he lamented he was denied alcohol on United Airlines as United has a “no alcohol” policy for deported passengers

Gibb now believes he will never be able to return to the USA again.

I’m Not Buying This One (Yet)

Last week, I wrote about the French scientist who claimed to be denied entry into the USA for making anti-Trump statements to his colleagues. This claim was made by a French minister. But a counternarrative emerged when a low-ranking US official alleged on social media that the scientist had removed privileged material from a top-secret test lab without permission. That issue remains unsolved, with both France and US refusing to provide any updates on the record.

Here, the visa issue cannot be ignored. Does an English band traveling to Los Angeles for a weekend concert need a work visa? (It appears the answer is yes and an O-1B or P-1B visa is needed). Were the band members simply traveling on an ESTA? What was the “second issue” used to deny entry? Why was that additional issue even brought up if the visa issue alone would have been enough to deny entry?

I do find stories–even allegations–like concerning and I take them seriously because I’ve seen poor treatment from US officials personally and from close friends. No matter your opinion on immigration, I would hope every American would want US officials to treat foreign visitors respectfully at US airports. That doesn’t mean agents cannot ask questions, but no one should be talked down to like a criminal at the initial point of entry. It feels like many immigration officers have been emboldened under the new administration to be much more aggressive in allowing Europeans into this country (and I know many are in support of such a policy).

This story is inconclusive and I make absolutely no judgment at this point. But if the band members had been traveling to the USA for years on a visa waiver and now suddenly need a visa, I wish the US would clarify that to avoid similar incidents in the future. As always, though, you are responsible for making sure you have a valid visa and a valid visa does not guarantee entry into the USA.