Thread: Italian Band Soviet Soviet Denied Entry To The U.S., Jailed And Then Deported

This is really outrageous. Citizens from European countries do not need visas to travel in the US. The orange cheeto strikes again.


A European band scheduled to perform at KEXP wrote in a Facebook post that when the trio arrived in the Seattle-area on Wednesday – they were detained and then sent back to Italy.

“We spent the night in jail and had been escorted there as though we were three criminals. The following day, after having completed all jail-related procedures (mugshots, declaration of good health and signatures), two other agents came to get us. We were searched, handcuffed and again escorted in a police car,” the Facebook post reads.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement locator for detainees lists two names that match those of players in the band, Andrea Giometti and Alessandro Ferri. The locator provides information on detainees released from ICE custody within 60 days.

The closest immigration detention center to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.

KIRO 7 News reached out to Washington state’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) press officer Jason Givens about detainees at Sea-Tac International Airport on March 8.

Citing a privacy act, Givens said CBP cannot disclose information regarding specific international travelers.

The band said in their statement on Facebook that they carried an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). An ESTA, also known as the Visa Waiver Program, allows citizens from nearly 40 countries to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.

KIRO 7 News talked to KEXP. Its relations office told KIRO 7 that KEXP contacted the Department on Homeland Security for comment.

“When asked by KEXP for a comment, the Department of Homeland Security maintained the position that the band lacked the proper visa for entry into the United States,” KEXP wrote on its blog. “DHS did not immediately respond to a question as to whether the use of prison cells and handcuffs is standard operating procedure for musicians arriving without a proper visa.”

KEXP said the DHS sent its station this Customs and Border Protection policy:

When a traveler is deemed inadmissible, CBP makes every effort to return the traveler without delay. CBP does not have an overnight detention facility at the airport. Therefore, it is standard procedure for any traveler who is deemed inadmissible and is awaiting return travel to be taken to a detention center until return travel is available. According to CBP policy, it is standard procedure to restrain a traveler who is being transported to a detention facility. The use of restraints on detainees during transport is in a manner that is safe, secure, humane, and professional. It is the responsibility of officers to ensure that the need and level of restraints used is consistent with the operational office’s policies and procedures. At no time are restraints used in a punitive manner or in a manner that causes detainees undue pain.

European band: Detained in Seattle area, sent back to Italy | KIRO-TV
Soviet Soviet had performances scheduled along the West Coast and South By Southwest. They flew back to Italy on Thursday, according to their post.
"They declared us illegal immigrants even if our intention was by no means to look for work in the United States nor never go back to Italy,” the band wrote. “We would like to apologize to our fans, the owners of the venues, KEXP radio and the SxSw festival. We would also like to apologize for having had to cancel our American tour and hope to go back soon.”

The Italians had chosen a wrong approach to a foreign country. Why they do not do it as others do? (also without any visa)

Bashar Assad: US troops in Syria are 'invaders' | Washington Examiner

Relax, Snub. There's no information out there on why they were denied entry. Might have been a good reason.

Originally Posted by bsnub

European band: Detained in Seattle area, sent back to Italy | KIRO-TV
Soviet Soviet had performances scheduled along the West Coast and South By Southwest

That is working and they were on a tourist type visa.

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Originally Posted by bsnub

European band: Detained in Seattle area, sent back to Italy | KIRO-TV
Soviet Soviet had performances scheduled along the West Coast and South By Southwest

That is working and they were on a tourist type visa.

Good point.

ESTA approval simply confirms authority to travel has been granted. It is not confirmation of admissibility which can only be conferred by a CBP officer and if that is denied at the port of entry then the passenger has no rights to challenge the decision unless an application for asylum is made. ESTA approval is only granted to those intent on business and/or social visits. On page one of the fucking electronic application form it expressly states it is not applicable to those intent on work, study or media activities.

These wop musicians, set up for a series of gigs, were taking the piss and had it coming to them.

Fank fuk someone is trying to protect your sorry asses.

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Originally Posted by bsnub

European band: Detained in Seattle area, sent back to Italy | KIRO-TV
Soviet Soviet had performances scheduled along the West Coast and South By Southwest

That is working and they were on a tourist type visa.

OK, that makes sense.

And this made the "media."

We know why. They wanna blame Cheeto.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

ESTA approval simply confirms authority to travel has been granted. It is not confirmation of admissibility which can only be conferred by a CBP officer and if that is denied at the port of entry then the passenger has no rights to challenge the decision unless an application for asylum is made. ESTA approval is only granted to those intent on business and/or social visits. On page one of the fucking electronic application form it expressly states it is not applicable to those intent on work, study or media activities.

These wop musicians, set up for a series of gigs, were taking the piss and had it coming to them.

ESTA approval is granted as long as you answer 'no' to a set of questions as dumb as "Are you a terrorist? Have you got Ebola"?

This is just a jumped up traffic warden enjoying his little bit of power.

What is getting paid to play a few gigs if it isn't "business"?

Snub, you really need to quit looking at sights like NDTV.com that spew nothing but anti-Trump biased and fake news. You are better than that.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

What is getting paid to play a few gigs if it isn't "business"?

Work.



Umm. The TD clock is an hour fast. It is only 2.45pm.

Daylight saving time started today.

Ah, the TD server must be in the USA. Thanks, Davis.

Originally Posted by Neverna

Ah, the TD server must be in the USA. Thanks, Davis.

The server used to be in Florida so I assume it still is.

It's given this unknown band heaps of free publicity, after Brexit we can invite them to England and issue a WORKING visa for the U.K. how cool is that, groovy.

Why the US authorities feel the need to haul people off to jail and interrogate them when refusing entry is ridiculous ! ok they may have had the wrong visa but its hardly a major criminal offence is it ?

How the tossers got out of Italy should be more the question.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

ESTA approval simply confirms authority to travel has been granted. It is not confirmation of admissibility which can only be conferred by a CBP officer and if that is denied at the port of entry then the passenger has no rights to challenge the decision unless an application for asylum is made. ESTA approval is only granted to those intent on business and/or social visits. On page one of the fucking electronic application form it expressly states it is not applicable to those intent on work, study or media activities.

These wop musicians, set up for a series of gigs, were taking the piss and had it coming to them.

ESTA approval is granted as long as you answer 'no' to a set of questions as dumb as "Are you a terrorist? Have you got Ebola"?

This is just a jumped up traffic warden enjoying his little bit of power.

What is getting paid to play a few gigs if it isn't "business"?

You really do struggle, don't you.

Which bit of my post could you not comprehend?

They were professional musicians on a tour for which they had no work permit. No non -EU foreign band could do the same thing in the UK without a fucking work permit you idiot.

They were all detained pending removal on the next available flight. Septics do not usually grant temporary admission to their refusals unless they were visa holders with the right of appeal. Most countries do the same.

A jobbing band of musicians touring a country publicising their work, receiving event fees and being provided with accommodation by a promoter who himself is getting a profit from their concerts/gigs is no fucking different to a construction gang, a teacher, journalist, nurse or fucking hotel receptionist - in return fir their labour they are receiving a consideration.

Visiting for the purpose of business is to promote lawful commerce as defined in the relevant rules. Gigging for a consideration isn't fucking business. You do a job and you get paid.

Originally Posted by steve down under

Why the US authorities feel the need to haul people off to jail and interrogate them when refusing entry is ridiculous ! ok they may have had the wrong visa but its hardly a major criminal offence is it ?

Are you an imbecile with learning difficulties or what? They had no fucking visa but tried to gain entry under the visa-waiver scheme which exists for the benefit of genuine visitors. No immediate flight to Italy was available so they were detained overnight following refusal. Big fucking deal.

Doubtless, their wop agent couldn't be arsed to do the right thing and apply for work permit visas on their behalf and was trying to wing it.

If I were the band, and probably oblivious to what day of the fucking week it was never mind US work permit rules, I would kick his head through his arse on my return.

Translation: Seekingasylum wants a job as a border control agent so the pompous prick can lecture everyone on his banal and picky interpretation of arcane rules and give himself an undeserved and misguided sense of self-importance.

What on earth is fucking arcane about operating an immigration policy that in most respects is implemented by just about every developed and emerging country in the entire fucking world, you dozy twat.

No country worth the fucking description does not have an immigration regime which protects its domestic labour market, you simpleton mofo.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Snub, you really need to quit looking at sights like NDTV.com that spew nothing but anti-Trump biased and fake news.

What are you fcuking talking about? This is a report from a local TV station in Seattle.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

What is getting paid to play a few gigs if it isn't "business"?

They weren't getting paid it was a promotional tour.

They've got "Soviet" in the name, the stupid prick at immigration probably thought they were "goddamned commies".

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

"goddamned commies".

But Republicans like commies now.

This is in the news because of who is President.

It's basically "fake news."

An unpaid promotional tour is a tour by professional musicians.

They came in on tourist visas? Then, they are idiots.