Band Soviet Soviet is denied US entry. Casualty of the Trump ban?

tempo_n_groove

https://www.facebook.com/sovietsovietband/posts/10155120054589810

Please read their side of it and let me know what you think.

I'll let some others chime in before I do.

mfc2006

here's a copy/paste for those that don't have Facebook.

Official Statement:

We arrived in Seattle on the afternoon of March 8.
We made our way to passport control with our ESTA, a letter from our American label (in which the label owner declared we would be performing a series of concerts for promotional purposes only and that we would in no way be receiving any form of payment for those shows) and a written invitation on the part of SxSw in hand. The first of us to get through passport control was Ale (our drummer), who disclosed the promotional purposes of our trip to the police officer.
Ale (our guitarist) and Andrea who both explained the exact same thing were held up and escorted to another office. Subsequently, we were all called back and interrogated individually, in three different rooms. We were able to have the agents speak directly to the owner of our American label without any success, however. After almost 4 hours of questions they told us their verdict. They had decided to deport us back to Italy and deny us entry into the United States. 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.
We accepted this decision as it seemed final at that point. They took our digital fingerprints and took mugshots of us for their file. They confiscated our cell phones and we were denied the possibility of contacting our families and loved ones. Around 10:30pm, two prison officers frisked us, handcuffed us and brought us to jail in a police car. 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.
They took us to the customs office we were in the previous day and we waited for our return flight which was scheduled for around 1:00pm local time. Only a short while prior to taking off were we able to get back our cell phones and bags and we were escorted right up to the airplane. We were relieved to fly back home and distance ourselves from that violent, stressful and humiliating situation. We left Italy headed towards the US with all necessary documents, passports and various declarations in which we clearly explained the purpose of our tour, confirming it is was strictly promotional and that we were in no way going to earn money from it or receive any form of payment. We knew that if we were to receive any compensation we would have had to apply for work visas. This was not the case and the people we spoke to for information told us we would be fine. We had not agreed on any payment whatsoever and the scheduled showcase performance at KEXP was most certainly not a paid performance. The point is that the control agents who did a quick check on the concerts we informed them of noticed that two of the venues were asking for entry fees and this was enough to convince them that we needed work visas instead of an ESTA.
We accepted this situation even if we tried to no end to explain the situation and that we were not receiving any form of payment, but there was simply no way of convincing the officials we spoke to. From that moment onwards, we became three illegal immigrants and were treated like criminals.
This is what happened this past Wednesday and Thursday. We would like to thank the people who supported and helped us throughout this ordeal, including Alessio Antoci, Owen Murphy and John Richards.
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.
Soviet Soviet.

mfc2006

My take is that this is bullshit. They had the proper documentation & made the purpose of their visit very clear, yet they were treated like criminals....which is not fair at all. Fucking strange times we're living in.

HughFreakingDillon

I don't get why anyone would be handcuffed and jailed for simply not having "work visas" if that was the actual issue. to be fair, are there any documented cases of this happening prior to Trump? I'm just trying to guage if this is just hysteria based on who is president, or if it really is new policy because of him.

deny entry, let them wait in the airport until their flight home is ready. simple as that.

either way, it's disgusting. you only make the rest of the world hate you the more and more stories come up like this.

josevolution

I think it sucks that they were treated like that ...unfortunately this is what a Bannon administration looks like !

tempo_n_groove

I actually think the story is fabricated.

But if it isn't here is my take on some things.

You don't go in through customs with a letter from your record company and think it's going to pass off as a document.

Nothing violent seemed to occur even though the band said it was.

Who spent the 50k or so it would cost to fly them over here, room them and feed them and take them to Seattle, Cali and Texas then back to Italy?

This whole story reeks of bullshit...

PJfanwillneverleave1

tempo_n_groove said:

I actually think the story is fabricated.
But if it isn't here is my take on some things.
You don't go in through customs with a letter from your record company and think it's going to pass off as a document.
Nothing violent seemed to occur even though the band said it was.
Who spent the 50k or so it would cost to fly them over here, room them and feed them and take them to Seattle, Cali and Texas then back to Italy?
This whole story reeks of bullshit...

It's a fishy story for sure but %100 supported by josevolution.
This is bad reporting and what some would call sad!

Go Beavers

Seems ligit:
http://blog.kexp.org/2017/03/10/why-soviet-soviet-werent-live-on-the-morning-show-yesterday/

Is this when America is great?

mfc2006

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

tempo_n_groove said:

I actually think the story is fabricated.
But if it isn't here is my take on some things.
You don't go in through customs with a letter from your record company and think it's going to pass off as a document.
Nothing violent seemed to occur even though the band said it was.
Who spent the 50k or so it would cost to fly them over here, room them and feed them and take them to Seattle, Cali and Texas then back to Italy?
This whole story reeks of bullshit...

It's a fishy story for sure but %100 supported by josevolution.
This is bad reporting and what some would call sad!

Is it bad reporting if it's their own account of what happened? Is it fake news if it actually happened?

EM194007

mfc2006 said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

tempo_n_groove said:

I actually think the story is fabricated.
But if it isn't here is my take on some things.
You don't go in through customs with a letter from your record company and think it's going to pass off as a document.
Nothing violent seemed to occur even though the band said it was.
Who spent the 50k or so it would cost to fly them over here, room them and feed them and take them to Seattle, Cali and Texas then back to Italy?
This whole story reeks of bullshit...

It's a fishy story for sure but %100 supported by josevolution.
This is bad reporting and what some would call sad!

Is it bad reporting if it's their own account of what happened? Is it fake news if it actually happened?

Wouldn't you think major news organizations would be reporting about this? Would they not want to miss any opportunity to attack Scump? That right there makes it kind of hard to believe it's 100% true. So far just what the band have released and it's been duplicated on blogs, etc. IMO, If this went down like they're saying, it would have been one of the lead news stories on the big MSM.

mfc2006

EM194007 said:

mfc2006 said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

tempo_n_groove said:

I actually think the story is fabricated.
But if it isn't here is my take on some things.
You don't go in through customs with a letter from your record company and think it's going to pass off as a document.
Nothing violent seemed to occur even though the band said it was.
Who spent the 50k or so it would cost to fly them over here, room them and feed them and take them to Seattle, Cali and Texas then back to Italy?
This whole story reeks of bullshit...

It's a fishy story for sure but %100 supported by josevolution.
This is bad reporting and what some would call sad!

Is it bad reporting if it's their own account of what happened? Is it fake news if it actually happened?

Wouldn't you think major news organizations would be reporting about this? Would they not want to miss any opportunity to attack Scump? That right there makes it kind of hard to believe it's 100% true. So far just what the band have released and it's been duplicated on blogs, etc. IMO, If this went down like they're saying, it would have been one of the lead news stories on the big MSM.

Good point. I'm not saying that I know all of the facts at all...but the media have enough on their hands these days & maybe it's just not on their radar yet. If it's true, it sucks. If it's fake, well...that also sucks to spread false information/stories when people are already on edge.

PJfanwillneverleave1

Now because of some facebook post and blogs here I know of some band called Soviet Soviet and still have zero interest of listening to them.
Not once in the article the band mentions anything about President Trump.
Only some on AMT made a fake connection to their ordeal.

mfc2006

and now it's on NPR.

http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/03/10/519707931/italian-band-soviet-soviet-denied-entry-to-the-u-s-jailed-and-then-deported

EM194007

mfc2006 said:

and now it's on NPR.

http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/03/10/519707931/italian-band-soviet-soviet-denied-entry-to-the-u-s-jailed-and-then-deported

Same story as the bands facebook and the blogs. If they didn't have their I's & T's crossed with the proper paperwork to enter the country. Then it's their own damn fault. None of us would be able to enter another country without the proper paperwork either.

tempo_n_groove

mfc2006 said:

and now it's on NPR.

http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/03/10/519707931/italian-band-soviet-soviet-denied-entry-to-the-u-s-jailed-and-then-deported

NPR is related to KEXP as they are both Public Radio.

tempo_n_groove

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Now because of some facebook post and blogs here I know of some band called Soviet Soviet and still have zero interest of listening to them.
Not once in the article the band mentions anything about President Trump.
Only some on AMT made a fake connection to their ordeal.

I actually asked the question in the title if the Trump ban was to blame and I'll stand behind that question.

Let's see how the rest plays out, no?

EM194007

tempo_n_groove said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Now because of some facebook post and blogs here I know of some band called Soviet Soviet and still have zero interest of listening to them.
Not once in the article the band mentions anything about President Trump.
Only some on AMT made a fake connection to their ordeal.

I actually asked the question in the title if the Trump ban was to blame and I'll stand behind that question.

Let's see how the rest plays out, no?

No!

tempo_n_groove

EM194007 said:

tempo_n_groove said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Now because of some facebook post and blogs here I know of some band called Soviet Soviet and still have zero interest of listening to them.
Not once in the article the band mentions anything about President Trump.
Only some on AMT made a fake connection to their ordeal.

I actually asked the question in the title if the Trump ban was to blame and I'll stand behind that question.

Let's see how the rest plays out, no?

No!

I agree with you. See my previous comments.

PJfanwillneverleave1

tempo_n_groove said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Now because of some facebook post and blogs here I know of some band called Soviet Soviet and still have zero interest of listening to them.
Not once in the article the band mentions anything about President Trump.
Only some on AMT made a fake connection to their ordeal.

I actually asked the question in the title if the Trump ban was to blame and I'll stand behind that question.

Let's see how the rest plays out, no?

What do you want to play out? People saying and proving that this story is true because of President Trump?
It is getting silly around these parts where everything is or possibly Trumps fault and we must have a discussion forthwith!

EM194007

tempo_n_groove said:

EM194007 said:

tempo_n_groove said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Now because of some facebook post and blogs here I know of some band called Soviet Soviet and still have zero interest of listening to them.
Not once in the article the band mentions anything about President Trump.
Only some on AMT made a fake connection to their ordeal.

I actually asked the question in the title if the Trump ban was to blame and I'll stand behind that question.

Let's see how the rest plays out, no?

No!

I agree with you. See my previous comments.

I did. Right now there is no Trump Ban. The old one is still tied up in the courts, until the 16th, when the new one goes into effect, then the old EO is gone. Now, the new EO might be tied up in court and not go into effect on the 16th also.

tempo_n_groove

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

tempo_n_groove said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Now because of some facebook post and blogs here I know of some band called Soviet Soviet and still have zero interest of listening to them.
Not once in the article the band mentions anything about President Trump.
Only some on AMT made a fake connection to their ordeal.

I actually asked the question in the title if the Trump ban was to blame and I'll stand behind that question.

Let's see how the rest plays out, no?

What do you want to play out? People saying and proving that this story is true because of President Trump?
It is getting silly around these parts where everything is or possibly Trumps fault and we must have a discussion forthwith!

Read my above quote...

Now I'd like to see if they rescind any of their story.
Will any major media pick up on this?
Can someone investigate if their paperwork was really legit?

Those are a few things I'd like to see play out.

tempo_n_groove

EM194007 said:

tempo_n_groove said:

EM194007 said:

tempo_n_groove said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Now because of some facebook post and blogs here I know of some band called Soviet Soviet and still have zero interest of listening to them.
Not once in the article the band mentions anything about President Trump.
Only some on AMT made a fake connection to their ordeal.

I actually asked the question in the title if the Trump ban was to blame and I'll stand behind that question.

Let's see how the rest plays out, no?

No!

I agree with you. See my previous comments.

I did. Right now there is no Trump Ban. The old one is still tied up in the courts, until the 16th, when the new one goes into effect, then the old EO is gone. Now, the new EO might be tied up in court and not go into effect on the 16th also.

Sec. 13. Revocation. Executive Order 13769 of January 27, 2017, is revoked as of the effective date of this order.

Sec. 14. Effective Date. This order is effective at 12:01 a.m., eastern daylight time on March 16, 2017.

You are 100% correct.

Now I'm really curious what people will say and my thread title is egregious...

mfc2006

tempo_n_groove said:

mfc2006 said:

and now it's on NPR.

http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/03/10/519707931/italian-band-soviet-soviet-denied-entry-to-the-u-s-jailed-and-then-deported

NPR is related to KEXP as they are both Public Radio.

I know. My point was that it was starting to circulate a bit more.

tempo_n_groove said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

tempo_n_groove said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Now because of some facebook post and blogs here I know of some band called Soviet Soviet and still have zero interest of listening to them.
Not once in the article the band mentions anything about President Trump.
Only some on AMT made a fake connection to their ordeal.

I actually asked the question in the title if the Trump ban was to blame and I'll stand behind that question.

Let's see how the rest plays out, no?

What do you want to play out? People saying and proving that this story is true because of President Trump?
It is getting silly around these parts where everything is or possibly Trumps fault and we must have a discussion forthwith!

Read my above quote...

Now I'd like to see if they rescind any of their story.
Will any major media pick up on this?
Can someone investigate if their paperwork was really legit?

Those are a few things I'd like to see play out.

Completely agree. Let's wait & see what happens. We'll know if it has legs soon enough.

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

tempo_n_groove said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Now because of some facebook post and blogs here I know of some band called Soviet Soviet and still have zero interest of listening to them.
Not once in the article the band mentions anything about President Trump.
Only some on AMT made a fake connection to their ordeal.

I actually asked the question in the title if the Trump ban was to blame and I'll stand behind that question.

Let's see how the rest plays out, no?

What do you want to play out? People saying and proving that this story is true because of President Trump?
It is getting silly around these parts where everything is or possibly Trumps fault and we must have a discussion forthwith!

Everything is his fault. I got a papercut earlier today. (his fault) Our dog took too long to take a piss outside earlier. (his fault) I just sneezed. (his fault)