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Afghan Girls Robotics Team Allowed To Enter U.S. For Competition (reuters.com)

Posted by msmash on from the sense-prevails dept.

An anonymous reader writes: A team of Afghan girls are on their way to compete in an academic robotics competition in the United States after American officials agreed to allow them to enter the country despite initially denying them visas. The reversal reportedly came at the request of U.S. President Donald Trump, Reuters reported.

7 of 50 comments (clear)

  1. Special Exceptions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Deemed not a threat... exception granted... not a big deal.

    So all you need is the personal intervention of the President of the United States?

    Our officials were crying in government offices when the immigration ban went through. Because they had to leave people in abject misery who had done everything right. Political posturing is the stupidest way to make immigration decisions.

    1. Re: Special Exceptions by Opportunist · · Score: 2

      Get the fuck out the country you fucking terrorist. You have your own country,

      Until here you had me confused whether you're an American talking to an Afghan or an Afghan talking to an American.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  2. Re:So what by freeze128 · · Score: 2

    What kind of robots will they be using? We nerds want the news! It matters to us!

  3. Any reason why? by l0n3s0m3phr34k · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Anyone know why they got rejected in the first place? That country isn't even on Trump's "list". TFA: "While officials did not comment on the reasons for initially denying the girls visas, the United States often denies visa requests from Afghans over fears that they will refuse to return home." Honestly, when it comes to the US wanting "the best and brightest" these girls are pretty high up on both lists. It would also seem, from TFA, that this allowance is probably from Ivanka appealing to Donald.

    1. Re:Any reason why? by dbIII · · Score: 2

      Having money in Afghanistan by purely savory means cannot be easy, given the recent turmoil

      Ah yes, the "all Americans are gangsters" thing shifted to another place and time.
      You probably don't even know you are doing it.

  4. Re:Thank you Donald! by idji · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Don't welcome this - this is not a good development. In a functioning democracy there are appropriate channels to get permissions and make things happen. In a dictatorship lobbyists, diplomats and sycophants try to get the dictator's ear and his yes to get whatever they are seeking for. The US is turning this way. Companys already know that the way to get Donald's attention is to make Fox talk about it or be the last person in the room before he makes a decision. This is not going well. These Afghan girls should not have needed a presidential intervention to get in to the USA - it is a sign that the rule of law is falling apart.

  5. How times change by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Insightful

    In old /., we'd have gotten a story about the robots they made and what the competition had to offer, what the challenge is and maybe an interview with them on their strategy, with a tacked on foot note that they may finally enter the country.

    In new /., we get a story about them being now allowed to enter the country. No, nothing about the actual robots, why are you asking?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.