What an embarrassment for our country. Who are we these days? Read the band’s own words on the link to Facebook embedded in the article:
http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/03/10/519707931/italian-band-soviet-soviet-denied-entry-to-the-u-s-jailed-and-then-deported
Wow, back to the USSR we go. Sadly, that is the SOP - the immigration services don’t have a hotel to offer to the folks who came here on a wrong visa.
(I highly recommend - for posting Facebook links from other sources - deleting everything starting with the “?” and beyond. The original link will be fine without that crud, although this link worked fine.)
Fixed it. As far as “wrong visa”, what’s “wrong” now was perfectly fine before. These aren’t terrorists. Seems like misplaced focus and energy to me to harass artists.
I am not condoning what they did to the band, I am just saying that this treatment of visitors not new news. When you enter the US as a tourist (which is what visitors do), you have to rebut the presumption that you are not trying to immigrate - if you are questioned at the border. A few wrong answers, and you are done. I am not making this stuff up. As a tourist, you are supposed to sightsee, shop, etc. but not perform on the stage even for free. Even taking an English class to improve your speaking is a no-no. Unless the laws change, anyone who plans to do business (as defined by ice) needs a business visa. Sad.