(for IamMalcolmX) Gorgeous Muslim banned from US travel

[mrsukyankee]

Article

US bans Muslim family from Disneyland holiday - calls for David Cameron to intervene

A family of 11, from Walthamstow in north east London, had planned a holiday to Disneyland in California but were barred from entering.

A Labour MP has called on the Prime Minister to challenge the US after officials refused to allow a Muslim family permission to board a flight to the country from Gatwick.

Stella Creasy has written to David Cameron urging him to press American authorities on what she says is a growing problem of British Muslims being barred from the US without explanation.

The family of 11, from Ms Creasy's Walthamstow constituency in north east London, had planned a holiday to Disneyland in California, saving thousands of pounds for the trip.

But as they went to board the Norwegian Airlines flight to Los Angeles from the Sussex airport on December 15 they were approached by officials from the US Department of Homeland Security, who told them their authorisation to travel had been cancelled.

The father, Mohammad Tariq Mahmood, said no reason was given as to why they could not board the flight, even though the family were allowed to under the Visa Waiver programme, which authorises travel to the US for up to 90 days without a visa.
Mr Mahmood, who was travelling with his brother and nine of their children, told the Guardian he believed the reason was "because of the attacks on America - they think every Muslim poses a threat".

Ms Creasy said she is concerned about increasing numbers of British Muslims being stopped from entering the US with no apparent reason.

Writing in the newspaper, she said she had "hit a brick wall" with getting an explanation from American authorities and so has asked Mr Cameron to intervene.

Ms Creasy said: "The vacuum created by a refusal to provide any context for these decisions is fuelling resentment and debate.

"Online and offline discussions reverberate with the growing fear that UK Muslims are being 'trumped' - that widespread condemnation of Donald Trump's call for no Muslim to be allowed into America contrasts with what is going on in practice."

She added: "Just a week ago, parliamentarians were united in agreement that Trump's views were abhorrent. Now we should do more than shrug our shoulders at secretive American security policies that leave our constituents in such limbo.

"If the embassy won't answer to the family's MP, it should answer to their prime minister and he to us about what he is doing to ensure that no British citizen is being discriminated against for their faith on our shores."

Downing Street said Mr Cameron would respond to the issues raised by Ms Creasy.

[WOT?*]

To use ML language - fuckityfuckfuck.  Sure, Donald's views are abhorrent. But we'll just play along with the mouthing of the words while we quietly follow the practices he's enumerating. EXPLAIN YOURSELF, Homeland Security. The worst part of the story, imo, is that they won't explain themselves, not even when it is the British government demanding a response.

[iammalcolmx]

How was it US officials barring them when they were refused in the UK? Flights from the UK are precleared?

[kme]

Question for international travelers. Why would you need a 90-day allowed Visa and not just use a passport? Especially for a trip to Disney?

I've been out of country twice and my passport was sufficient for travel.

[karinothing]

Dec 23, 2015 7:31:14 GMT -5 kme said:

Question for international travelers. Why would you need a 90-day allowed Visa and not just use a passport? Especially for a trip to Disney?

I've been out of country twice and my passport was sufficient for travel.

It says you can travel for up to 90 days without a visa. So he didn't need a vida for the trip

[kme]

I would like more information and not jump to conclusions.

Did they have returning tickets? Did they even have passports? It says they can fly under the Visa Waiver but doesnt mention they had passports. You still need one. Was brother on watch list? Did mom call the airport cause she was mad she wasn't going? (That's a joke).


Trump isn't president nor do his views reflect the majority. I highly doubt they were cancelled because of trump...

[wawa]

kme - you think this is a family of idiots who tried to travel internationally with no passport?? I'm honestly not understanding your questions here.

iammalcolmx I imagine it has something to do with this. (I googled because I had the same question)

In order to travel without a visa on the VWP, you must have authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to boarding a U.S. bound air or sea carrier. ESTA is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) automated web-based system to determine eligibility to travel without a visa to the United States for tourism or business. Visit the ESTA webpage on the CBP website for more detailed information, to apply for ESTA, and pay the fee.

travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit/visa-waiver-program.html

And because it's early and I'm shallow - dad is hot.

[mrsukyankee]

You pretty much can't leave the country w/o a passport so I'm quite certain they had a passport (unless you are going to Scotland or Wales). To go to the US, British Citizens need an ESTA which you fill out online at least 48 hours before leaving. To get an ESTA, you need a passport. They had the ESTA approved six weeks earlier.    They were told in the departure lounge that they were no longer able to go to the US and that they would not get a refund on their flight.  

I think it'll be interesting once Cameron looks into it to see what details are not being released.

[wawa]

yeah, I just watched the video at the link. OF COURSE they had passports, and the DHS guy told them the problem was with the ESTA. but that's it. No further explanation. Just "Washington DC called. Problem with your ESTA. Sorry not sorry. bye."

[iammalcolmx]

Dec 23, 2015 8:41:24 GMT -5 wawa said:

kme - you think this is a family of idiots who tried to travel internationally with no passport?? I'm honestly not understanding your questions here.

iammalcolmx I imagine it has something to do with this. (I googled because I had the same question)

In order to travel without a visa on the VWP, you must have authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to boarding a U.S. bound air or sea carrier. ESTA is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) automated web-based system to determine eligibility to travel without a visa to the United States for tourism or business. Visit the ESTA webpage on the CBP website for more detailed information, to apply for ESTA, and pay the fee.

travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit/visa-waiver-program.html

And because it's early and I'm shallow - dad is hot.

HOLD ON!!! I need a reason for not letting his fine ass into the USA!!

[iammalcolmx]

mrsukyankee please do everyone a service and rename this " Fine ass Muslim denied entry into the US for being Muslim"

[Deleted]

This is fucked up, particularly @mx point about accountability. Security is fine, but it can't be arbitrary to this point.

I bet someone noted their file with "the dad has big guns," but it was referring to his biceps.

[lg28]

That man is smoking hot!! Let him in!!


All kidding aside, I hope it was some type of miscommunication or understanding with the requirements and they rectify the situation promptly.

[bimbi284]

I'm guessing they were just like:

Because that is the only reasonable explanation I will accept.

[2doxies]

Well, damn.

[RandZB]

Dec 23, 2015 9:33:47 GMT -5 bimbi284 said:

I'm guessing they were just like:

Because that is the only reasonable explanation I will accept.

I'm crying laughing at this gif.

[twotrue]

I don't believe for a second that a family of 11 traveling to another country to go to DISNEYLAND, one of the most expensive vacations possible, would not have their paperwork together.

[Cicero]

There are hundreds of reasons people can legitimately be denied entry even after having visas granted. It's all down to the discretion of whatever CBP officer you happen to deal with and there really isn't any accountability over their decisions.

It makes for a very inconsistent system--Having smoked pot makes you excludable and yet Justin Bieber keeps gaining entry.

[pixy0stix]

Because Disneyland is a breeding ground for terrorists.

[Deleted]

Dec 23, 2015 10:51:28 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Because Disneyland is a breeding ground for terrorists.

I don't know... "It's a Small World" could be a tool for indoctrination. Or insanity.

[downtoearth]

Dec 23, 2015 10:47:33 GMT -5 Cicero said:

There are hundreds of reasons people can legitimately be denied entry even after having visas granted. It's all down to the discretion of whatever CBP officer you happen to deal with and there really isn't any accountability over their decisions.

It makes for a very inconsistent system--Having smoked pot makes you excludable and yet Justin Bieber keeps gaining entry.

Really? I did not think it was this fickle. What if you're flying from Amsterdam to the US?

[pixy0stix]

Dec 23, 2015 11:21:15 GMT -5 @nofucksgiven said:

Dec 23, 2015 10:51:28 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Because Disneyland is a breeding ground for terrorists.

I don't know... "It's a Small World" could be a tool for indoctrination. Or insanity.

I really want to go around all day humming this now.

[Cicero]

Dec 23, 2015 11:29:05 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

Dec 23, 2015 10:47:33 GMT -5 Cicero said:

There are hundreds of reasons people can legitimately be denied entry even after having visas granted. It's all down to the discretion of whatever CBP officer you happen to deal with and there really isn't any accountability over their decisions.

It makes for a very inconsistent system--Having smoked pot makes you excludable and yet Justin Bieber keeps gaining entry.

Really? I did not think it was this fickle. What if you're flying from Amsterdam to the US?

It arguably doesn't matter if the act of smoking could have gotten you thrown in jail or not wherever you did it. What matters is whether the CBP officer knows about it and what s/he chooses to do about it.

[StrawberryBlondie]

Dec 23, 2015 8:41:24 GMT -5 wawa said:

kme - you think this is a family of idiots who tried to travel internationally with no passport?? I'm honestly not understanding your questions here.

iammalcolmx I imagine it has something to do with this. (I googled because I had the same question)

In order to travel without a visa on the VWP, you must have authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to boarding a U.S. bound air or sea carrier. ESTA is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) automated web-based system to determine eligibility to travel without a visa to the United States for tourism or business. Visit the ESTA webpage on the CBP website for more detailed information, to apply for ESTA, and pay the fee.

travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit/visa-waiver-program.html

And because it's early and I'm shallow - dad is hot.

Oh, hello, sir.

[WOT?*]

There must be some sort of mistake. They're obviously not terrorists. Dad isn't wearing a turban. Isn't that the giveaway?
Like this Sikh (who was beaten for being a terrorist)

or this grandfather, who was a totally fearsome terrorist because the turban:

This 53 year old taxi driver? www.sikhfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Piara_Singh.jpg
Or maybe this fierce singer/writer.



This is the one guy I might give some credence to the turban-hides-a-terrorist theory:

[terpsfan]

Dec 23, 2015 11:21:15 GMT -5 @nofucksgiven said:

Dec 23, 2015 10:51:28 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Because Disneyland is a breeding ground for terrorists.

I don't know... "It's a Small World" could be a tool for indoctrination. Or insanity.

I have gotten stuck in the World in it. I think it's torture!!

[sushi]

Dec 23, 2015 10:51:28 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Because Disneyland is a breeding ground for terrorists measles.

bioterrorism