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Foreign E3 Journalists Body Searched, Deported

Posted by simoniker on from the sonic-and-mario-brandishing-rubber-gloves dept.

Thanks to Janko for pointing out a press release at Reporters Without Borders denouncing the US authorities for deporting French games journalists sent to cover E3. The complaint alleges that "..these journalists were treated like criminals - subjected to several body searches, handcuffed, locked up and fingerprinted", after arriving in Los Angeles on (arguably misleading) tourist visas to cover the E3 trade show. It doesn't seem to have been just the French, either - messageboard reports indicate at least 5 British journalists from a variety of publications had a similar treatment. Who'd have thought attending E3 could be so.. dangerous?

6 of 78 comments (clear)

  1. Re:seperate groups by DjReagan · · Score: 2, Informative

    The French are being singled out? What part of "It doesn't seem to have been just the French, either - messageboard reports indicate at least 5 British journalists from a variety of publications had a similar treatment" don't you understand?

    --
    "When I grow up, I want to be a weirdo"
  2. Could have been worse. by Kris_J · · Score: 4, Informative

    They could have been named David Nelson.

  3. Re:Yeah right, this is about games, uh huh by richi · · Score: 2, Informative

    Last time I checked, citizens of an EU country don't need a visa for a stay in the USA of up to 90 days, even if they're working.

    Of course, why should we expect that this publication should tell the Feds' side of the story, or do anything else resembling "proper" journalism, eh? ;-)

    r.

  4. Re:Yeah right, this is about games, uh huh by richi · · Score: 4, Informative

    Yes, really, old chap. For many years now, the USA have run what they call a "Visa waiver program" (sic). My US visa expired years ago, but I still enter the US for work roughly 10 times per year, simply by filling in an I-94(W) "landing card".

    r.

  5. Re:Yeah right, this is about games, uh huh by simoniker · · Score: 5, Informative

    Just came across a good article which explains some of the issues, here at Reason Online.

    A quote: the journos were "..trying to enter the U.S. the same way European journalists have been coming for the last 17 years: on the Visa Waiver program, which allows the citizens of 27 friendly countries (from Andorra to Switzerland) to visit the States up to 90 days without a visa, as long as the trip is for "business or pleasure." Journalism, according to American consular writ, does not qualify as either."

  6. The visa issue by Kyouken · · Score: 3, Informative

    Accually, I was detained for a few hours some years back over the same issue. The visa waiver thingy means you can't accually -work- while being in the US, you can interview people, write articles etc., but you can't publish anything -while- you're in the US. For this you need a special visa or something, which I didn't have, and I suspect the French journalists didn't have either. The kind officers of the US Immigration Service (or something) eventually let me go, but they could've easily put me on the first plane back. Or body searched me a few times, detained me for 24 hours and -then- put me on a plane. After this incident, I never ever ever get into specifics over what kind of work I'll be doing at E3. I suspect the French journalists may have answered 'mais oui, i will publish my articles while I'm here' for all this to have happened. I also suspect the fact that they're French didn't exactly get them any favours.