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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. French? by isorox · · Score: 5, Funny

    Surely you mean Freedom journalists?

  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: 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.

  4. My bad... by Scorchio · · Score: 5, Funny

    I slipped the authorities £20 to intercept my manager and lead designer, who got to go to the show. I think my descriptions must have been a little vague.

  5. Re:Surprise? by regen · · Score: 4, Insightful
    This is about rights that are no longer protected or respected by our government.

    No, this is about rights they never had. They came over here to work, and they had tourist visa. They should have gotten the correct type of visa. The US has in the past been lax about enforcement of this for short term assignments such as this, but Europe has not.

    France is much worse. Have you ever tried to work in France. The country is so heavily unionized, and it is so difficult to get a temporary work visa. A company I used to work for had a plant in southern France. We occasionally would have to sent prototype electronics to this plant for work they were doing. Because they were prototypes, the company wanted to have an employee bring them over. US employee couldn't do this because of french visa issues. French employees had to fly to the US to pick up the part and bring it back.

    The French are only getting what they have been dishing out for years. Serves them right.

    --
    The Economics of Website Security
  6. 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."