U.S. Orders Foreign Reporters To Leave Country To Renew Visas

[russian33]

Saying that it is complying with new homeland security regulations, the State Department has informed the estimated 20,000 foreign journalists stationed in the U.S. that they will have to leave the country and renew their visas at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Reporting on the order, Britain's Guardian newspaper commented today (Thursday) that it was likely "to cause chaos for overseas broadcasters and newspapers just five months before the presidential election." Previously foreign journalists were able to apply for visa renewals in Washington or New York. The American Society for Professional Journalists has warned that the edict could result in similar action being taken against American reporters stationed abroad.

http://www.imdb.com/news/sb/#1

[LuminousX]

1. Set up for a fraud election?

Don't want anyone reporting the truth, now, do we?

[thecrow]

18. OMG OMG OMG

kick!!! this up there!!!!!!

[Joanne98]

2. What the Hell???????????

Could they be pulling now? This is creepy........

[Moondog]

7. Another "Fast One"

If the foreign reporters are forced to return to their countries of origin for renewal of their entry visas, and for some really strange reason the US declines to issue them another visa, they are already outside of the country and unable to legally get back in. Deportation, with accompanying bad U.S. publicity, becomes unnecessary.

Crudely Machiavellian, without the subtlety that would make it worthy of Machiavelli. In other words, another half-assed scheme that is so typical of Bush, Cheney, and their assorted pals.

[newyawker99]

8. Hi Moondog!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Moondog]

17. Thanks

Newyawker. Nice to be here! :beer:

[patdem]

3. WOW...very scary that and the threat to stop the elections???

These people are planning...what??? Who the 'CHENEY' knows??? this is TRULY freightening!!!

[Sinistrous]

4. Just one horror after another......

My outrage supply is exhausted.

[xocolatl]

5. Welcome to the 21st Century n/t

[displacedtexan]

6. Canada and Mexico would love the dollars these reporters will spend!

What a crock! That's $ that would otherwise be spent in this country!

Bush*: Bad For Business!

[yodermon]

9. Link to orig. guardian article

http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,14173,1256588,00.html


...
A crackdown by US authorities on issuing visas to foreign journalists threatens to cause chaos for overseas broadcasters and newspapers just five months before the presidential election.

The new rules, which come into force next week, will ban overseas reporters and news crews stationed in the US from renewing their visas without leaving the country first.

Just five months before American voters decide who will be appointed to the most powerful office in the world, the US state department said it would no longer allow overseas journalists to renew visas from within the country.
...

[Norquist Nemesis]

16. What an odd wording of the election process!

"voters decide who will be appointed"

I know...off topic, but it just really popped out at me.

[Kellanved]

10. yes, that was discussed in the German media a few weeks ago

AFAIK It will not only affect Journalists, but all people holding short-term work visa.

[Jazzgirl]

11. These guys will never quit will they?

Get the reporters out of the country so the "truth" about what's going to happen during the elections doesn't get reported. You know how Americamedia is gonna report stuff. And if they suspend elections there won't be any foreign press here to do any objective analysis. Typical of these a**holes!:mad:

[Shakespeare]

12. Well, that's one way to stop that pesky foreign coverage.

Keep trying, assholes. We've got the internet, and the news will get out, one way or the other.

[thecrow]

20. Would they try

to shut that down as well? As in martial law?
They've already "purged" everything that they disapproved of.

[gator_in_Ontario]

13. All foriegn workers have to re-apply for their visas

from their home countries now...but the reporters might have been their target from the get go.
hmmmm

[cthrumatrix]

14. Will OUR MEDIA report this....hell no. This is outrageous.

[Mandate My Ass]

15. Question: I've often heard if you leave the country to renew

your visa, you must remain outside of the country for at least the amount of time you spent here. Does anyone know if this is true?

I'm not sure if that applies to working visas, but these guys play real crooked and I wouldn't put it past them.

[BurtWorm]

19. Damn Cathy Coleman goes and spoils it for everybody else!

Asking the Bush boy real questions! Who does she think she is?!

;) + :eyes: