Latest news with #ElectronicSystemforTravelAuthorization
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
WorldPride speaker says she was denied entry to US after Cuba visit
Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, a British political and LGBTQ rights activist, said she was denied entry to the U.S. over a recent trip to Cuba. Opoku-Gyimah, also known as Lady Phyll, had been scheduled to deliver opening remarks at WorldPride's human rights conference, which runs June 4-6 in Washington. Speaking over a livestream Wednesday afternoon, Opoku-Gyimah said U.S. officials revoked her visa waiver under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), an automated system determining whether visitors from participating countries may enter the U.S. without a visa. Travel to Cuba, which the U.S. designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 2021, is grounds for having an ESTA revoked, according to the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) website. The Caribbean nation's terror designation was briefly rescinded under former President Biden and reinstated by President Trump in January. Opoku-Gyimah said she was notified of the revocation of her travel authorization days before she was set to fly to the U.S. for WorldPride. She applied for a temporary visa, she said, but was told the earliest she could enter the country was September. 'I've called. I've written. I've pleaded,' said Opoku-Gyimah, the co-founder and CEO of UK Black Pride. 'And the answer was a cold, bureaucratic 'No.'' The DHS did not immediately return a request for comment. Opoku-Gyimah's virtual remarks Wednesday highlighted the LGBTQ community's diversity, and she encouraged WorldPride gatherers to embrace the group's intersectional identities. 'Enjoy the Pride, walk together, walk proudly and talk proudly,' she said. 'Be bold and brave in our fight for justice.' The U.K. issued a travel warning for the U.S. in March, cautioning British passport holders that 'authorities in the U.S. set and enforce entry rules strictly' and 'you may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules.' Other countries, including Denmark and Finland, have issued travel advisories for transgender visitors to the U.S., referencing policies instituted by the Trump administration targeting trans rights. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
WorldPride speaker says she was denied entry to US after Cuba visit
Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, a British political and LGBTQ rights activist, said she was denied entry to the U.S. over a recent trip to Cuba. Opoku-Gyimah, also known as Lady Phyll, had been scheduled to deliver opening remarks at WorldPride's human rights conference, which runs June 4-6 in Washington. Speaking over a livestream Wednesday afternoon, Opoku-Gyimah said U.S. officials revoked her visa waiver under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), an automated system determining whether visitors from participating countries may enter the U.S. without a visa. Travel to Cuba, which the U.S. designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 2021, is grounds for having an ESTA revoked, according to the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) website. The Caribbean nation's terror designation was briefly rescinded under former President Biden and reinstated by President Trump in January. Opoku-Gyimah said she was notified of the revocation of her travel authorization days before she was set to fly to the U.S. for WorldPride. She applied for a temporary visa, she said, but was told the earliest she could enter the country was September. 'I've called. I've written. I've pleaded,' said Opoku-Gyimah, the co-founder and CEO of UK Black Pride. 'And the answer was a cold, bureaucratic 'No.'' DHS did not immediately return a request for comment. Opoku-Gyimah's virtual remarks on Wednesday highlighted the LGBTQ community's diversity, and she encouraged WorldPride gatherers to embrace the group's intersectional identities. 'Enjoy the Pride, walk together, walk proudly and talk proudly,' she said. 'Be bold and brave in our fight for justice.' The U.K. issued a travel warning for the U.S. in March, cautioning British passport holders that 'authorities in the U.S. set and enforce entry rules strictly' and 'you may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules.' Other countries, including Denmark and Finland, have issued travel advisories for transgender visitors to the U.S., referencing policies instituted by the Trump administration targeting trans rights.
Epoch Times
27-05-2025
- Epoch Times
US Issues ‘Level 2' Travel Warnings for Citizens Traveling to Italy, Belgium
The U.S. Department of State has issued new travel advisories for American citizens visiting Italy and Belgium due to the 'risk of terrorist violence,' upgrading both countries to a Level 2 warning. In a 'Terrorists may attack with little or no warning,' the embassy bulletin said, adding that common targets may include public areas such as transportation centers, shopping malls, markets, tourist areas, local government offices, hotels, clubs, restaurants, and other sites. A similar If a U.S. citizen visits either Italy or Belgium, the State Department The State Department did not explain why both countries were upgraded to 'Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution.' Related Stories 5/26/2025 5/24/2025 There are four levels of travel advisories: Level 1 – Exercise Normal Precautions, Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution, Level 3 – Reconsider Travel, and Level 4 – Do Not Travel. The highest level is usually reserved for war zones, countries with authoritarian governments, or areas with excessive criminal activity, such as kidnappings. Other It comes as some countries in Europe have issued stronger advisories on traveling to the United States in recent months, including the UK and Germany. German officials in March While a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization or a valid U.S. visa 'constitutes a right to entry into the USA,' Germany's Foreign Office A criminal convicted in the United States, overstaying a visa for a short period, giving false information, or other offenses can lead to arrest, detention, and deportation, Germany's foreign office further warned. 'Any further questions concerning entry into the USA should be clarified with the relevant U.S. diplomatic mission abroad well in advance of departure,' the office said. In an update issued in March, the UK government 'You may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules. If you're not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the U.S. Embassy or a consulate in the UK,' the country's government said. The updates came after President Donald Trump earlier this year signed executive orders meant to shore up border security and crack down on illegal immigration,
Asahi Shimbun
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Japan to adopt U.S.-style entry system for foreign visitors
Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki explains the proposed Electronic System for Travel Authorization program at his May 23 news conference. (Yuki Nikaido) The government announced plans to introduce more rigorous online screening to root out undesirable foreign visitors and eventually reduce the number of illegal aliens in Japan to zero. Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki told a May 23 news conference that 'strong measures' were needed, citing public disquiet over a barrage of media reports about foreign visitors behaving badly. The Japanese version of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) that was introduced in the United States in 2009 will be up and running in fiscal 2028. Canada and New Zealand operate a similar program, and the European Union is planning to introduce its own version in 2026. The Japanese system consists of seven major policy planks intended to prevent foreign nationals with criminal records from entering Japan as well as to swiftly deport those who have been denied refugee status. Records show there were 2,122 foreign nationals at the end of 2024 who had received final confirmation for deportation. One goal of the plan announced May 23 is to halve that number by the end of fiscal 2030, according to the Immigration Services Agency. Under JESTA, prospective visitors to Japan from 71 nations and regions who are exempted from visas for short pleasure or business trips will have to apply online beforehand. Immigration authorities will check whether applicants have a criminal record or previously were in Japan illegally. Those who do not receive authorization will not be allowed to board flights bound for Japan. The ministry is expected to expand the program to cover those who might arrive by sea to enter Japan. DOUBTS ABOUT PROGRAM RAISED Just how effective JESTA will be in reducing the number of illegal aliens is already open to question. Naoko Hashimoto, an associate professor of international refugee law at International Christian University in Tokyo, accepted that there is a need for policies to reduce the number of illegal aliens. However, she pointed out that those who end up with that status may not necessarily come from nations that are exempted from visas for short-term visits. She said the government may be needlessly stirring up public emotions about unruly foreign elements by implementing policies based on impression rather than statistics. 'The number of crimes committed by foreigners has remained the same in recent years and the government has not released figures for the visa status of those arrested,' she added. Another component of the electronic screening system is to more swiftly process refugee applications, an area in which Japan has been heavily criticized for not allowing more people to settle. In 2015, the Immigration Services Agency classified refugee applications into four categories. Since 2018, for example, those who ended up in the case B file, meaning they were clearly not refugees, remained ineligible for the 'designated activities' visa. In 2018, case B applications made up about 20 percent of all applications, but that figure had been reduced to 0.6 percent in 2024. Agency officials said the sharp decrease may be due to applications being classified as case D, a dumping ground for all others that do not neatly go into the other three cases, rather than case B. As a result, immigration authorities decided to review how case B applications are decided. Suzuki said applications that are found to contain erroneous information or were deliberately misused will be swiftly classified as case B to increase the number of individuals denied the designated activities visa. That, in his view, will deter rank dishonesty in filling out applications. In the past, case B applications concerned people facing economic difficulties or who cited vague unease with the policies of their home government or were not considered in danger of having their rights violated. Agency officials declined to divulge what the new conditions would be in deciding case B applications on grounds publicizing that information would only lead to more applications submitted with the intention of avoiding a case B decision. The ICU's Hashimoto pointed out that the move to expand the number of case B decisions would lead to an increase of illegal aliens, thereby contradicting the program's stated goal. Another aspect of the plan will be to increase government funding to allow immigration marshals to escort deportees back to their native land. Individuals who have made at least three failed refugee applications or have a record of committing major crimes would be covered under the program. Authorities said 249 deportees were escorted back to their homeland by air marshals in 2024. They said the government is seeking to double that figure in three years. 'I have doubts as to whether the plan to improve immigration control will be an effective strategy in the medium- to long-term,' Hashimoto said.
23-05-2025
- Politics
Japan to Facilitate Deportations of Undocumented Foreigners
News from Japan Politics May 23, 2025 17:55 (JST) Tokyo, May 23 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government will expedite screenings of applications for refugee status to facilitate deportations of "undocumented" foreigners, Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki said Friday. "We are committed to creating a society in which the people can live feeling at ease together with foreigners, by strictly dealing with foreigners who do not observe rules," Suzuki told a press conference. The plan could trigger concerns from the perspective of refugee protection. To speed up the refugee screening process, the government will present case types that do not clearly meet the definition of refugee under the U.N. Convention on the Status of Refugees. It will also front-load the introduction of a system modeled on the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA, to fiscal 2028 from fiscal 2030, to prevent entry to Japan by foreigners with risks of staying illegally. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
