British Nationals Refused Entry to U.S. Over Twitter Tweets
To DHS, 'Tweeter' is no joke.
Anyone with a Twitter account knows that it's easy to say things without first putting them through that all-important filter: Will people care? Am I doing something illegal? Will this make my life more difficult? We all know the story of Paul Chambers, the man arrested and eventually charged after joking about blowing up a UK airport on Twitter. Though the Paul Chambers' ruling was widely considered unfair, he's not the only person to get in trouble for tongue in cheek comments made on Twitter. Chambers was this week joined by bar manager Leigh Van Bryan and friend Emily Bunting, who were both recently refused entry to the United States after comments they had made on Twitter caught the attention of the Department of Homeland Security.
According to the Sun newspaper, Leigh tweeted at a friend, "Free this week, for quick gossip/prep before I go and destroy America?" He later tweeted a reference to Family Guy: "3 weeks today, we're totally in LA p*ssing people off on Hollywood Blvd and diggin' Marilyn Monroe up!"
DHS saw his messages and detained him and his friend upon their arrival at LAX. They were held and questioned for five hours before being handcuffed and transferred to prison cells guarded by armed officials.
Leigh says he tried to explain that 'destroy' is slang for partying hard in Britain but the DHS officials held the two on suspicion of planning to "commit crimes." The story goes that they thought Leigh's friend Emily was there to act as a look-out while Leigh raided the crypt of Marilyn Monroe. They even checked their luggage for shovels. The two were sent home on a plane the next morning, but Leigh was also issued with papers detailing the reason he was refused entry to the U.S.
"He had posted on his Tweeter [sic] website account that he was coming to the United States to dig up the grave of Marilyn Monroe. … Also on his tweeter [sic] account Mr. Bryan posted that he was coming to destroy America."
Think before you Tweet, guys.
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Only in the US....
Lol...?
I'm kinda speechless. What do I say about this?
Wouldn't a potential terrorist use methods of contact other then normal chat channels?
What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? They did not tweet specifics of how they would literally dig up Marilyn Monroe or destroy America. People say stupid things to friends all the time! This is nuts..
Revenge for us barring Snoop entry to the UK, fair swap I would say...
This is the so call Freedom of Speech that US always proud of?
Lol...?I'm kinda speechless. What do I say about this?Wouldn't a potential terrorist use methods of contact other then normal chat channels?
Of course... That's why we hear about stories like this while real terrorists fly planes through buildings... Just sayin'.
American passengers should all be harassed and publicly humiliated with no reason, in airports all over the world until their goverment gets its sh*t together.
Of course... That's why we hear about stories like this while real terrorists fly planes through buildings... Just sayin'. American passengers should all be harassed and publicly humiliated with no reason, in airports all over the world until their goverment gets its sh*t together.
Think before you post.... talk about ignorant.
so if i post I WILL DESTROY AMERICA, it will automatically show up on DHS?
guess I WILL BOMB the forums with comments about AIRPORTS OR AIRPLANE.
or ignore this post, because I AM not a TERRORIST.
Complete PARANOID has reached Twitter.
Understanding "he was coming to the United States to dig up the grave of Marilyn Monroe" from "diggin' Marilyn Monroe up!" is one of the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen.
Think before you set foot in the US. The totalitarian democracy!
US at their best
Oh and am sure you can buy tools in any DIY store, don't need to stuff in luggage
I work for the government and well...this is just embarrassing. Detaining tourists and then deporting them is sure to help our economy.
US at their best
I think you mean at our worst. You seem to forget all the things the U.S. has actually done for the world. Nobody even compares when it comes to giving away foreign aid, and remember WWII? Yeah, we gave blood there too. Hey, come to think of it...the U.S. has a history of being pretty decent. People are way too cynical. One stupid instance and now we're all stupid in the USA. What about all the tourists that come here without any problems? Should I hate everyone who isn't American just because you're an anti-American jerk?
This is the so call Freedom of Speech that US always proud of?
That does not extend to non-citizens. Furthermore, they were detained - not beaten.
Lol...?I'm kinda speechless. What do I say about this?Wouldn't a potential terrorist use methods of contact other then normal chat channels?
Most criminals are dumb. You would be surprised at just how dumb most criminals are. The educated prefer to work with the existing societal infrastructure, not make chaos out of everything.
Welcome to 1984.
I bet they also check what you searched for on google, what videos you watched on youtube, your emails, etc.
This is not far off from what happened in Soviet Russia and in the other soviet-style regimes of eastern Europe.
What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? They did not tweet specifics of how they would literally dig up Marilyn Monroe or destroy America. People say stupid things to friends all the time! This is nuts..
This sort of gets thrown out the window when there are laws featuring the words "on suspicion of".
The arrest would have been enough of a shocker to likely stop them doing it again, as a form of intimidation. Actually furthering it to deportation... well, common sense took a holiday I suppose.
Meanwhile 10K illegals flood over the southern border every day. How long before AQ figures out that little loophole?
Most criminals are dumb. You would be surprised at just how dumb most criminals are. The educated prefer to work with the existing societal infrastructure, not make chaos out of everything.
Unfortunately, "the educated" are responsible for almost all of the most bloody conflicts in history and lots of notable terrorist attacks...
I work for the government and well...this is just embarrassing. Detaining tourists and then deporting them is sure to help our economy.
Yeah, but you've only lost a portion of their cash :-) I'm sure they won't be getting any refunds on the flight tickets against US airlines or the hotel they were staying in.
I think you mean at our worst. You seem to forget all the things the U.S. has actually done for the world. Nobody even compares when it comes to giving away foreign aid, and remember WWII? Yeah, we gave blood there too. Hey, come to think of it...the U.S. has a history of being pretty decent. People are way too cynical. One stupid instance and now we're all stupid in the USA. What about all the tourists that come here without any problems? Should I hate everyone who isn't American just because you're an anti-American jerk?
You joined in once we were winning - i am aware you are all taught in school you won the war however joining a WOLRD WAR 2 years after it has started (and only after you lost a harbor) is a pretty douche move. It's like letting your mates get pummeled and then only joining in when they start to win and a stray punch catches your chin.
You joined in once we were winning - i am aware you are all taught in school you won the war however joining a WOLRD WAR 2 years after it has started (and only after you lost a harbor) is a pretty douche move. It's like letting your mates get pummeled and then only joining in when they start to win and a stray punch catches your chin.
Err - "we" being who? Because Russia and the US won WWII. The UK was a convenient place from which to attack the western front. Without the US, the UK would not have had a hope.
(from the UK)
Do you have to put a shovel in the checked luggage or -if it is the foldable type- can you put it in the overhead compartment ?
Is there a surcharge by the airlines ?
You've got to research these things before you travel
Err - "we" being who? Because Russia and the US won WWII. The UK was a convenient place from which to attack the western front. Without the US, the UK would not have had a hope. (from the UK)
Hitler abandoned his hopes of invading the UK long before the US joined the war.
The whole western front was inconsequential to the outcome of the war. The vast majority of the fighting happened on the eastern front.
The Axis military suffered at least 80% of it's casualties in the east, the Russians suffered 85% of the military casualties of the Allied forces.
The Siege of Leningrad alone killed more red army soldiers than the US and UK military deaths combined.
The only major difference made by the western Allies was influencing the post war order of Europe.
I am NEVER going to visit the USA after reading this. Simply out of principle. This is the most retarded thing to come out of dumbland lately.
The US is a failed state. People need to realize that. The faster you GTFO and invest resources and money in other countries, the better off you will be.
That does not extend to non-citizens. Furthermore, they were detained - not beaten.
People like you are doing your best to destroy the USA with your complacency and acceptance. The country is much like the Titanic at this point. But the band plays on......
this is such bull-shit....oh America, really?
This is one of the reasons why I don't use any 4uckin social networks.
Not surprising considering some of the yokels that work for DHL.
We have given up freedom for a false sense of security. What a joke.